Canadian July/August 2016 Firearms Journal

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PM 40009473 Return undeliverable to: Canadian Firearms Journal, 5 P.O. Box 49090, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6H4 From The Editor’s Desk 20 Summer Is Upon Us Again Footwear For Shooters Al Voth An important part 6 of shooting success President’s Message Jeff Helsdon Advocacy & Challenge Sheldon Clare 24 8 Vice President’s Message Shooting Heavy Metal Our Canada - Not Theirs Guns & gear for 3-Gun’s 41 Blair Hagen Big Bore division Edward Osborne Wilderness Carry 9 Should backcountry users be Preserving Our authorized to carry handguns? Firearms Heritage Kevin Wilson Guerillas On The West Coast Gary K. Kangas 28 46 12 The Mossberg Flex Politics & Guns HK Mark 23 Norman Gray The Price Of Posturing 500 System Bruce Gold Providing platform options for shotgunners 51 Brad Fenson Point Blank Firearm Ownership Necessary For Protection In A Volatile World 32 Chris McGarry The .455 Eley Cartridge 52 Handloading one of the confusing Legal Corner British .455s Bill S-223 A Major Threat Bob Shell Guy Lavergne 54 14 36 NFA Book Shelf Review Collector’s Guide to the Learning Precision Riflery Savage 99 Rifle and Dagger SAP6 The Rob Furlong its Predecessors, the 12-Gauge Markmanship Academy Model 1895 and 1899 Dean Roxby Lowell Strauss Bill Rantz

Mission statement Canada’s National Firearms Association exists to promote, support and protect all safe firearms activities, including the right of self defense, firearms education for all Canadians, freedom and justice for Canada’s firearms community and to advocate for legislative change to ensure the right of all Canadians to own and use firearms is protected. The contents of the Canadian Firearms Journal are copyrighted and may be reproduced only when written permission is obtained from the publisher.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 3 On The Cover

TAVOR Training Course Photo by Graeme Foote

This month’s cover comes via the talents of photographer Graeme Foote. It shows shooters getting in on the action at a recent TAVOR training course. As you can tell by the rain, this one was held in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia. These courses are held regularly at various locations in Canada, under the sponsor- ship of www.zahal.com. They even bring in Israeli instructors. These courses are one example of the numerous firearms training opportunities available in Canada every summer.

Canadian Firearms Journal The Official Magazine of

Editor Al Voth [email protected] General Manager [email protected] Ginger Fournier 780-439-1394 Accounts/Membership [email protected] General Information [email protected] Legal Inquiries [email protected] National Executive National President 1-877-818-0393 Sheldon Clare [email protected] EVP, Communications 1-877-818-0393 Blair Hagen [email protected] Treasurer 1-877-818-0393 Bill Rantz [email protected] PM 40009473 Return undeliverable to: Secretary 1-877-818-0393 Canadian Firearms Journal, P.O. Box 49090, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6H4 Jerrold Lundgard [email protected] PRINTED IN CANADA

4 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 From The Editor’s Desk Al Voth

Summer Is Upon Us Again

This is it, July and August, the heart of Canada’s summer. Of course, it’ll go by mance we need to be mindful of what’s too quickly, but while it lasts be sure to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Cana- on our feet. Good advice. Hunters pay a dians are blessed to live in a country with no shortage of outdoor opportunities. lot of attention to footwear and range Naturally, readers of this magazine will be taking a gun or two along on any out- shooters should, too. door adventures. But you won’t be taking handguns, because our government doesn’t For those who like the old guns, Bob trust us to be responsible with them at any location other than a shooting range. After Shell tells us a bit about the confusing all, if we’re trustworthy enough to manage a handgun on a crowded range, don’t you world of .455 calibre British revolver think we could be trusted to handle one in the wilderness? Kevin Wilson looks at that cartridges, and how to handload for state of affairs and explains why, instead of saving lives, this policy is costing them. old boomers like the 455 Eley. I doubt Summer is also a great time to take a shooting course or two, and Lowell Strauss there’s a cartridge in the world Bob gives us a tour of one of Rob Furlong’s precision rifle courses. Having taken one of hasn’t loaded for. He tells me he can Rob’s courses myself, I can verify Lowell’s recommendation that these are great even teach me how to make ammuni- learning opportunities, and a whole lot of fun, as well. Too many Canadian shooters tion for my antique Dutch KNIL revolver. have never had the benefit of taking formal skill training, and if that’s your case, Of course, we have gear reviews. In it’s something you should rectify. We have a lot of skilled trainers in Canada, and this issue, the Dagger SAP 6 shotgun, whether you shoot rifle, handgun or shotgun, a formal training course from an ac- the HK Mark 23 pistol and Mossberg’s complished instructor is something that needs to be on your bucket list. Flex 500 system all get a close look. Ed Osborne is back, with a look at the Heavy Metal Division of 3-Gun, and the There’s lots of political commentary, as gear needed to play in that category. Big guns are needed, but we all know that well, from Bruce Gold, Gary Mauser and the bigger the gun, the more fun. And with all that running around the ranges, Jeff Chris McGarry. Enjoy the issue, and let me Helsdon reminds us, with an article on footwear for shooters, that for top perfor- know what think of it. It’s your magazine.

Besides range shooting, summer is also a great time for varmint hunting.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 5 President’s Message Sheldon Clare Advocacy & Challenge damage by the Trudeau government and to better acquaint the opposition with our potential value to them. We have a need to strengthen our relationships with the CPC by ensuring that they see our value much more than they have in the past three years, and especially prior to the election. It should be perfectly clear to even the most jaded observer that the elimination of the long gun registry was not enough. There needs to be fundamental reform to our firearms laws. More incremental tinkering is not going to resolve the problem. The problems created by successive governments remain, With the election of the Trudeau gov- and thus there needs to be a serious effort to repeal the bad laws and regulations ernment, we are faced with a government contained within the terrible legislation from those ancient bills C-17 and C-68. that is, at best, uncommunicative, and at Also, we are continuing to build bridges with our friends and to encourage more worst, downright unfriendly. The test bal- interest in the shooting sports generally. We are keeping an eye on the legal front. loon of S-223 from a now-retired Liberal As well, I am pleased to report that we now offer liability insurance for firearms and senator, which outlined a whole new re- hunting instructors, which includes live firing. It isn’t business insurance, but covers gime of terror for firearms owners, was instructors who are earning up to a set amount per year teaching courses related something that needed to be stopped – to firearms handling and use, including hunter safety courses. We think it’s a good thanks very much for calling and writing product and we hope you will agree. The office has the details. the senators and your MPs. It looked a lot Thanks for your messages of support and donations. Make sure you get in on the like the tactic of Kim Campbell and her new donation draw for the rifle. Keep working hard to advance the cause. bill C-80, which preceded C-17 and died on the order paper after much protest by the firearms community. We will all need to be ready for what is next. The new situation, coupled with the attempt at re-establishing a provincial registry in Quebec with Bill 64, means that we are in need of stepping up our lobbying and advocacy. We have already been leading with presentations to the Quebec National Assembly, and in reach- ing out to the CPC opposition with our concerns and ideas. Legal team member, lawyer Guy Laverne, has been directed to prepare to challenge Bill 64, and we have been preparing NFA draft materials to challenge the Quebec government. In order to support our needs in pre- venting any bad legislation from moving forward and to get our message out, we have contracted Fred Delorey to serve as our communications consultant. Fred brings extensive experience in political and media communications and a solid range of connections in both government and opposition on Parliament Hill. He has already hit the ground running with efforts on Bill S-223, and is working on a strategic plan to move our efforts forward. He is our designated lobbyist and will be promoting the NFA agenda. Legal team member, lawyer Guy Laverne, has been directed to prepare to challenge Bill 64, A key part of that agenda will be to limit and we have been preparing NFA draft materials to challenge the Quebec government.

6 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Rapport du Président Sheldon Clare Nouveaux défis et lobbying Suite à l’élection du Gouvernement Trudeau nous devons faire face à une admin- pourront jamais régler le problème. Les istration qui est au mieux peu communicative et au pire plutôt hostile. Le Projet de problèmes de fond créés par plusieurs Loi S-223 qui fût lancé comme test par une Sénatrice récemment retraitée devait Gouvernements successifs demeurent. Il être arrêté à tout prix. Il tentait d’établir un nouveau régime de terreur auprès des doit y avoir un effort réel pour abroger propriétaires d’armes à feu. Nous sommes reconnaissants que vous ayez écrit à les anciennes Lois affreuses qui sont les vos Sénateurs et Députés. Cette tactique nous a rappelé le Projet de Loi C-80 de Lois C-17 et C-68 ainsi que tous les règle- Kim Campbell qui a précédé C-17. C-80 est mort au feuilleton après qu’il y ait eu ments qu’elles contiennent. beaucoup de plaintes de la part de la communauté intéressée par les armes à feu. Aujourd’hui nous devons nous méfier de l’avenir. La nouvelle situation politique Fédérale et les efforts du Québec pour ré-établir un Notre attention registre Provincial avec leur Projet de Loi 64 créent un climat qui nous obligent à aug- menter nos efforts de lobbying. Nous sommes en tête de file en ce qui a trait aux ac- est toutefois tions de lobbying. Au Québec, Me Guy Lavergne dirige l’équipe juridique de l’ACAF dans concentrée sur son opposition au Projet de Loi 64. Nous avons d’ailleurs déjà fait plusieurs présenta- tions sur ce sujet à l’Assemblée Nationale, et à cette fin d’autres documents juridiques l’aspect juridique, sont toujours en préparation. Nous sommes en communication avec l’opposition officielle Fédérale, le PCC, avec qui nous partageons nos idées et nos inquiétudes. vu le climat Pour empêcher que de mauvaises lois soient déposées et pour assurer la trans- mission de notre message nous avons engagé les services d’un consultant en com- politique actuel munications du nom de Fred Delo- rey. Fred a beaucoup d’expérience dans le domaine de la politique et Nous avons aussi continué de cultiver des médias. Il a aussi beaucoup de nos relations avec nos amis et faisons la contacts sur la Colline Parlemen- promotion des sports de tir en général. taire autant au sein du Gouverne- Notre attention est toutefois concentrée ment que dans l’Opposition. Il s’est sur l’aspect juridique, vu le climat poli- mis immédiatement à l’oeuvre tique actuel. Je suis heureux de vous an- pour combattre le Projet de Loi noncer que nous offrons maintenant une S-223 et travaille pour développer assurance responsabilité civile aux in- une stratégie pour défendre nos instructeurs de tir et de chasse qui protège térêts. Il est notre lobbyiste officiel aussi lors de tir actif. Ce n’est pas une et fera la promotion de notre pro- assurance d’affaire, elle est conçue pour gramme. Un des éléments clé de protéger les instructeurs qui gagnent un ce programme sera de limiter les salaire défini par l’assurance lorsqu’ils en- dommages qui seront causés par le seignent le maniement d’armes à feu ainsi Gouvernement Trudeau et de faire que les programmes de formation sur la connaître notre valeur potentielle sécurité des chasseurs. Nous croyons que à l’Opposition Officielle. Nous dev- c’est un bon produit, nous souhaitons que ons renforcer notre relation avec vous serez du même avis. Notre bureau le PCC pour nous assurer qu’ils chef pourra vous donner toutes les infor- nous reconnaissent à notre juste mations que vous aurez besoin. valeur comparativement aux trois Merci pour vos messages d’encour- dernières années et en particulier agement et pour vos dons - assurez vous juste avant les élections. Il devrait de participer au tirage qui vous permet- être évident, même auprès des tra de gagner une carabine. Continuons observateurs les plus blasés, que de travailler fort pour notre cause. l’élimination du registre des armes longues n’était pas suffisant. Il doit y avoir un changement fon- damental à nos lois sur les armes à feu, les ajustements mineurs ne

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 7 Vice President’s Message Blair Hagen Our Canada - Not Theirs

never purchased a firearm requiring registration. The job now is to remove the requirement of bureaucratic permission, so they may enjoy the same rights as their parents and grandparents did. However, the politics of today dictates there will be more challenges. Senate Bill S-223 is an example. You can read more about what it contains in Guy Lavergne’s column. But I’d like to suggest you take a moment and visit the Senate website, Sometimes it feels like the shoot- which records the justifications Senator Hervieux-Payette applied to the bill. The er’s curse is to be perpetually paranoid Internet link to the Senator’s introduction is: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/ and pessimistic, especially for those Chamber/421/Debates/028db_2016-04-19-e.htm#50 who care about the political and cultural A couple of her justifications stand out. For example: manifestations that affect the Canadian “When President Obama sounded the alarm in January, his words resonated tradition and right of firearms owner- here in Canada, and I saw this for myself on television. No one can remain unmoved ship. Canadians who participate in our by his impassioned plea to change the American public’s view of firearms. Like firearms heritage have been under sus- Prime Minister Chrétien, President Obama took action. In spite of the limited legal tained attack by the civil disarmament framework of his office and the conservative majority in Congress, he managed to lobby, politicians, bureaucrats and the implement the Common Sense Gun Safety Reform.” media for almost 50 years. It never ceases to amaze me how much the Canadian issue is couched in terms We’ve had round after round of of the US. Then there is this curious missive: freedom-destroying and confiscatory “This bill isn’t dogmatic or ideological. In drafting it, I used facts, figures, and legislation visited on us, and vast media documented results of Canadian, American and British policies. I also established a campaigns of vilification. But we are still starting point for any government or any non-government organization that wants here. The disarmament lobby hates who to thumb its nose at the gun lobby, which is very active, but which, in my opinion, is we are and what we represent. However, not concerned with Canadians’ safety.” we understand Canada’s history, pres- Really? “A starting point...to thumb its nose at the gun lobby?” How infantile. It’s ent and future in a way they cannot. also interesting she found the need to point out the bill was neither “dogmatic or Canadians are made of strong stuff ideological.” Anyone else reading it will take away a differing opinion. and will rise to defend our British Com- Unlike Senator Hervieux-Payette, most Canadians don’t pay heed to the Ameri- mon Law rights and freedoms. So, on can president or adopt the values of other countries in addressing public safety the rare occasions I meet a prophet of issues in Canada. Canadian law will be decided by Canadians, not in Washington, doom, or just somebody who is con- D.C, or the United Nations. The attempt to import foreign ideals on gun control cerned about the national state of af- resulted in the historic failure of the 1995 Firearms Act. A failure Canada still hasn’t fairs as they pertain to firearms, I make recovered from. it my business to remind them of our Senate Bill S-223 may be the ramblings of a small-minded, misguided, ideological inherent freedoms and the recent and dogmatic woman whose political career is thankfully over. But it is also more gains we’ve experienced through fire- evidence of the damage that can be done if Canadians who believe in rights and arms law reform. freedoms absent themselves from the political process. Those who wish to destroy I’ve often written about how hope- our rights and culture thrive in the political world. less the situation seemed back in the However, today, Canadians who believe in firearms rights, particularly those who 1990s and I sometimes forget there is believe in the right to own property and to provide for their personal defence, have a generation today who never had to learned to thrive in that process, as well. We have achieved firearms law reforms experience the political, social and cul- that were unthinkable in the past. And that has emboldened us to remain active in tural impasses of those times. Today’s the defence of Canadian rights and freedoms. For Senator Hervieux-Payette’s edi- Canada is much different, made that fication, we aren’t going to back off, we aren’t going away and we’re never going to way by the hard work of those who stop until Canadian rights, freedoms and culture are secure from the likes of her stood fast against the agenda of the and her fellow travelers. civil disarmament lobby. In one way, it pleases me that we have been so successful at causing a fit of Gains that were unthinkable a few pique in Bill S-223 for Senator Hervieux-Payette. But in another way, Senate Bill short years ago became political fact. S-223 demonstrates the dangers Canadians still face from politicians and bureau- There are individuals now who have crats, and the challenges that lie ahead. 8 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Preserving Our Firearms Heritage Gary K. Kangas Guerrillas On The West Coast

Imagine an unpaid, volunteer Canadi- an Militia armed with Winchester 30-30 rifles, Sten guns, Browning High Power 9mm pistols and trained in guerrilla tactics, lurking in the woods of the west coast of Canada. In Canada, that could never be! However, it was. During the Second World War a militia was formed in British Columbia to protect the west coast from Japanese invasion. To quote the Chilliwack Progress newspaper of September 1942, “Training of British Columbia’s 18,000 guerrilla fighters is greatly accelerated.” The focus of the Canadian public in the early years of the Second World War was the war in Europe. The concern for England ran high, with fears of German invasion. To many in Canada, the war was distant. The invasion of Manchuria in 1931 by the Japanese had no serious impact on Canadians; it was viewed as a remote incident. In 1937, China mounted a full- scale resistance to Japanese expansion in Asia, and even that was viewed as a local conflict. The intentions of Japan became starkly clear on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On Dec. 8, they attacked Hong Kong. The Japanese had attacked a British colony. It was viewed as a direct assault on the British Empire. The Japanese High Command strate- gy was to terrorize the North American west coast with shelling and fire bombs. Their plan was to drive the population into a panic, in the belief that North Americans would become amenable to Japanese expansion. The Japanese High Command did not consider a land invasion of the US or Canada, in that it would be far too difficult. Some of the Japanese commanders had worked and studied in North America and knew that the population was armed and the fight- ing would be up close and personal. In February 1942, a Japanese sub- PCMR issued Winchester 1894 and kit. July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 9 marine shelled the Ellwood oil field in southern California. In June 1942, a Japanese U-boat shelled Fort Stevens, at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, and destroyed a baseball field. On June 7, 1942, a Japanese U-boat sank a ship called the Coastal Trader off the Washington coast. The U-boat then damaged the SS Camosun on June 19. June 20, 1942, the Japanese shelled the Estevan Lighthouse on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The shells landed in the area, but did not damage the lighthouse. The Japanese, in Septem- ber 1942, launched a float plane from a submarine and fire bombed the Oregon forest just north of the California bor- der. They fire bombed the forest twice, however, no fires were started due to the fall weather. Prior to these events, some agencies on the west coast had assembled small militias. In May 1941, members of the Victoria Fish & Game Protective Asso- ciation formed the Southern Vancouver Island Rangers under the direction of the BC Provincial Police. After the events of December 1941, there was a call to arms. On March 3, 1942, the Canadian Army issued a general order for a militia to be on duty in Original watercolour of PCMR uniforms, with a PCMR cap badge, shoulder flash and dog tags. British Columbia. The first unit of the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers was raised Army Command and the appointment was approved or not approved after an interview. in Victoria. What is known as the PCMR The individuals recruited were typically employed in defence industries, or could was born. By July 1942, 10,000 men in not otherwise serve in the regular forces due to some physical impairment or their 123 companies were serving. They had age, either too old or too young. no uniforms, and their firearms were The preferred applicants were outdoorsmen, loggers, fishermen, cowboys, hunt- personally owned. A list of personal ers, sharp shooters, timber cruisers, surveyors, trappers, prospectors and farmers. firearms on the application of a PCMR Many were First World War veterans. Chinese Canadians and First Nations were member dated April 14, 1942, displayed enthusiastic applicants. The enrolment did not call for a medical examination and the eclectic array of guns the Rangers did not involve any age restrictions, although membership was limited to only those would initially use, such as Winchester that could do the work. The age range was from 13 to 90. 30-30, 303 Savage rifle, 12-gauge shot- A quote from David B. Clark’s book on the PCMR states, “Rangers were expected gun, 32 Stevens rifle and a 32-calibre to function in the bush with no outside help.” Another quote, “The active Army Colt revolver. members who trained with the Rangers learned very quickly that the Rangers knew The PCMR officers were elected, and what they were doing in the deep bush. Rangers were held in high esteem by many the membership of the company could a regular who had been ambushed by a Ranger that had silently crept up on him also vote them out. Once an officer was and taken him out of a war games exercise.” elected, the information was communi- By mid-1942, the Rangers were receiving insignia and equipment. The first iden- cated to the PCMR headquarters at Pacific tification provided was an arm band. Then uniforms were available to be ordered.

1 0 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 As the war years unfolded, the Pacif- ic Coast Militia Rangers developed into a formidable guerrilla army. Officers were issued with Sten guns and Brown- ing Hi-Power pistols. License plates were issued to certain individuals so their cars could be identified as official. They were then able to acquire fuel, as gas was rationed. The PCMR equipment and uniforms were upgraded. They had their own publication called The Rang- er. Its focus was on instruction, training and information. The units extended throughout BC, all the way to the Yu- kon. They patrolled the forests, coast line, railways and bridges, checking for saboteurs and enemy agents. As they were residents of the area, their knowledge of the population and topography was superb. By the time the Ranger program was terminated in 1945, 15,000 Pa- cific Coast Militia Rangers had served. Many who enrolled as teenagers had joined the regular army when they came of age. When the PCMR was disbanded in 1945, serving members could purchase their Winchesters, and they are now valued items in many firearm collections. The Rangers magazine cover, with a rare Leupold compass and a PCMR ID card. The dramatic legacy left by the dedicated guerrilla fighters who protected On the training of Rangers, there is an excellent quote from Clark’s book: “The main Canada’s west coast is a testament to training centre for the Army on the west coast of Canada was at Sardis (now a Canadians’ commitment to freedom part of Chilliwack). Many officers and NCOs were given two weeks of basic training and defence of their homeland. These there in guerrilla tactics, weapons handling, first aid, map reading, signalling and individuals have formed another part of Army systems. They, in turn, took this information back to their companies and our valued firearms heritage. trained other men. Eight active Army travelling instructors reached out to most of the Ranger companies, and Rangers and reservists would receive training jointly Sources when the Army instructors were in the area.” The training included all manner of ordnance, including hand grenades. CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Mu- seum site The firearms and accoutrements being issued to the Rangers at this time was an odd mix at best; First World War leather, obsolete rifles such as Long Lees, Ross The Southern Vancouver Island Rangers Rifles, P17 Enfields and Smith & Wesson revolvers from the 1914 to 1918 era. In July Historian 1942, the government purchased Winchester Model 1894 carbines in 30-30 calibre The History Lists and some Model 1894 Marlins of the 1936 variant in 30-30 calibre. The Winchesters Clark, David B., Pictorial History of the and Marlins only differed from civilian models in that they were fitted with sling Pacific Coast Militia Rangers: British swivels and slings by local gunsmiths. They were marked with a broad arrow and a Columbia’s Guerrilla Army 1942-1945. C. The Winchesters and Marlins were chosen so the regular military supply of fire- Victoria, BC: First Choice Books, 2013, Quoted with permission. arms would not be compromised.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 1 1 Politics & Guns Bruce Gold

The Price Of Posturing

One of the tactics used by anti-gun As the problems of the Middle East are shifted into the first world by mass immigra- campaigners is the pretension that their tion and by geopolitical considerations, we can expect this violence, a prominent policies are driven solely by the needs of characteristic of the political process in Muslim countries, to increase. public safety. They assert that the prob- We can pause here to clarify this new threat and who is behind it. Religious Is- lems of crime and violence are so great lam is about theocracy and a state church. Muslims themselves violently disagree that they create a need for immediate on the specifics of what the true religion is or does. Political Islam is the secular and dramatic action. They claim there campaign to spread Islamic power and dominance by military, political and propa- is a pressing need to do something or ganda tactics. Direct military action, such as the “lone wolf” attack on our Parlia- implement policies that will help. At the ment, or more organized attacks such as the ones on Paris and Brussels, are the extreme end of the do-something rheto- military stick designed to seize the political initiative through intimidation. They are ric, we see the use of the “if it saves just intended to drive our cowardly elites into an ever more desperate pursuit of peace one life” slogan. through ever expanding multicultural concessions. If we examine this approach to gun In both religious and political spheres, it is the active minority that counts, no control policy, we are struck by the matter what the intentions and hopes of the majority may be. A recent Canadian wonderful moral superiority that wraps survey found the primary concern of most Canadian Muslims is employment. How- around the proponents. With the one- ever, significant minorities showed support for political Islam, with 34 per cent tol- life claim or other moral verity, they erant of Al Qaeda and 24 per cent supporting the Islamic supremacy policies of the affirm an unmitigated defence of princi- Muslim Brotherhood. ple, untroubled by economic or political considerations. Their posture of moral Where our elites put their political will absolutist is in itself a claim to virtue. Despite the ongoing problems of crime and radicalism, the elites in Canada show It leaves critics of any specific policy little sign of abandoning their campaign against law-abiding gun owners. The rhe- playing defence against the charge that torical claim used to support this campaign is that the fight is about public safety they are only critics because they are of a lesser ethical standard or the pawns of some vested interest, devaluing the human costs. Unfortunate realities Unfortunately, we live in an imperfect world. A world where there is always the problem of limited resources and unlimited demands on those resources. Further, the root cause of violence is not some magical inanimate object (guns) that can be banned into oblivion. We live in a world where an imperfect humanity always has its share of people willing to use violence to get their way. We face the traditional problems of the bully imposing their will and the criminal balancing costs and benefits with violence to tip the balance in their favour. These ancient problems are only made worse by anti-self-defence policies that disarm the victim and fail to disarm the criminal. We are also experiencing the impact of a growing wave of calculated political One of the tactics used by anti-gun campaigners is the pretension that their policies violence sweeping the western world. are driven solely by the needs of public safety.

1 2 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 drug investigations. Given the real dif- ficulties of anti-terrorism work and the long time periods needed to gain exper- tise, it is hard to see how our “anyone in a red tunic” approach will succeed. One might presume their old duties also needed doing. Time for choices Good government demands a realistic cost/benefits analysis and rational policies. Yet the posturing continues. Que- bec is now introducing its own version of the failed long gun registry. As always, Rifles labelled as patrol carbines when issued to police, are re-branded as assault the rationales are irrational. Speaking in weapons when owned by civilians. support of the official line, Pierre Veil- leux, of the Provincial Police Association, and moral leadership. Unfortunately, the facts on the ground reveal a campaign fantasized about the powers of an admin- motivated by ideological determinism and vote hustling. istrative database. In his mind, the new This is not new and, despite some changes by the Conservatives, firearms poli- gun registry will enable first responders cies are still in the mess left by the Liberal’s criminalization of firearms ownership to magically obtain a list of all weapons in 1995. This was a fundamental change, because unlike previous regulations that with a single click of the computer. The respected centuries of Common Law and tradition, C-68 criminalized firearms own- grim reality is that such a list, provided ership itself. With this act, the Liberals created two million instant criminals and at great labour and expense, would list criminalized seven to 10 million guns. To make this radical change to our laws politi- people with one-third the general homi- cally feasible, they grudgingly brought in licensing and registration as a political cide rate and miss the 95 per cent of kill- safety valve. Their plan was to make ownership so arduous and legally hazardous ers who are not licensed. This exercise in that it would die out. Ultimately the plan failed, and the costs of administration futility and dangerous delusion is to be have run to billions of dollars and untold tens of thousands of police man-hours, done in the name of “officer safety.” with no public safety benefit to show for it. The police are happy – or at least the To understand why this criminalization of the law-abiding was an exercise in leadership is happy – to shift officers futility, we can look at Statistics Canada data. This data reveals licensed gun own- from the mafia beat and leave the fire- ers have a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000, a third of the average homicide rate arms paper-pushers in place. Provincial of 1.85 per 100,000. Official statistics also demonstrate that licensed owners were police are secure in the illusion that the accused of homicide in only 4.5 per cent of firearms homicides (Mauser). Public law-abiding are the main threat to their safety is not served when the vast majority of your effort falls on the law-abiding. officers. Political violence is still a talk- away problem. How long we continue The Mounties carry the can this folly in the face of a growing threat While the government has been busy policing the law-abiding, other needs got remains to be seen. the short shift. In economics, they call this the opportunity cost – money spent on one thing is not available for other projects. References Reforming CPIC, Some Thoughts, Carbines Gary A Mauser, Institute for Canadian The issuing of patrol carbines (assault rifles) to the RCMP became a hot button Urban Research Studies, August 2012. issue after a semi-automatic rifle was used to kill four RCMP officers in 2005 (the Mayerthorpe incident). By 2006, the force was reacting to criticism that their of- What Do Muslim Canadians Want? The ficers were outgunned, and began to examine the need for a weapon with more Clash of Interpretations and Opinion Research, Christian Leuprecht and reach and firepower than a pistol or shotgun. In a mere five years, the force was Conrad Winn, The Macdonald-Laurier able to establish that a need existed, with commissioned reports in 2010 and again Institute , November 2011. in 2011 recommending the adoption of a patrol carbine. By 2013, a short eight years after the need became blatantly obvious, the force received its first carbines. By Number of Mounties on Counter- 2014, just nine years after officers demonstrated the need with their lives, some terrorism Duty “insufficient,” RCMP Report Warns. 1,333 had been issued – one for every 13 Mounties. The 2014 Moncton shootings Ian MacLeod, Ottawa Citizen, March 14, that left three more officers dead is now finally accelerating the training and equip- 2016. ping of the force with carbines. Why are the RCMP Less Well-armed Than a Municipal Police Force? Terrorism Charlie Gillis, MacLean’s, July 19, 2014. With the reluctant realization that political Islam exists and is using political violence to influence policy, Canada finally started to address its increasing security Quebec Weighs Price of New Gun Regis- needs. Sort of. When military violence broke out on Parliament Hill, the pressing try Against Cost of Inaction, need to combat terrorism could no longer be talked away. The RCMP, well behind Allan Woods, Quebec Bureau, March 27, 2016. the curve as usual, shifted 600 officers out of organized crime, financial crime and

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 1 3 REVIEW Dag g er SAP6 12-Gauge Shotgun by Dean Roxby

he Dagger SAP6 pump-action shot- restricted, so your fun is not limited to stock is both collapsible and removable Tgun certainly has a striking design. an approved range. This one is meant if desired. The stock can be collapsed With its black finish, short, 11.4-inch barrel, to go backpacking with you. If your hik- without tools. To remove it entirely, it detachable box magazine, free-standing ing takes you to areas frequented by needs only a cartridge tip or similar to pistol grip and overall length of a mere large bruins, it’s hard to imagine a better depress a rather stiff button. No tools to 29-and-one-eighth inches with collapsible choice; especially since the gun features carry or lose. stock retracted, this gun is bound to elicit a three-inch chamber, allowing for the Since the SAP6 is a pump action, strong feelings, for or against. use of this more powerful ammunition. there are no gas system issues to con- Most importantly, this shotgun is non- As the photographs show, the butt- tend with. While gas or inertia operated

1 4 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Dagger SAP6 12-Gauge Shotgun by Dean Roxby

semi-auto guns can be made to be reliable, they are often fussy about ammunition. Having issues during a range day is a bit annoying. Having a failure to feed when facing a charging bear is a whole lot more problematic. The SAP6 has a stiff spring below the barrel that assists with the forward stroke, thereby helping to ensure the ac-

The Dagger SAP6 pump-action shotgun has a striking design.

tion is fully locked. During my testing, I The gun comes standard with a Pica- probably ran 300 rounds or more through tinny-style rail, which runs the length it with zero failures to feed. Interestingly, of the barrel and a good portion of the the instruction booklet section on trouble receiver. Because this rail is screwed to shooting says not to apply excess forward the barrel at the front end and the re- pressure on the forend while pumping, as ceiver at the rear, it does mean that it this might bind things up. I deliberately will need to be removed if and when you did so, in an attempt to cause a failure, but remove the barrel. Not a problem by any could not make it fail. means, but worth noting. As noted above, it features a barrel Between retracted and fully extend- length of only 11.4 inches. If desired, ei- ed, the collapsible stock has four posi- ther a 14-inch or an 18-inch barrel may tions, allowing three-and-three-quarter- be ordered as an option. The 11.4-inch inches of adjustment range. The butt barrel is a fixed cylinder choke, while also has holes moulded into it to carry the 14-inch and 18-inch barrels allow an additional four shells. for screw-in chokes. For the unknowing, A 40-page manual is included in the I should add that Canadian law effec- package. Crisp, clear, full-colour photos tively states that a manually operated printed on glossy paper give a detailed shotgun may indeed have a short bar- breakdown of the gun for disassembly rel, provided it was manufactured that and maintenance purposes. length, and not sawn off later. In other The fit and finish is basic black words, this thing is perfectly legal! moulded plastic, done well. Yes, there Reducing the barrel length makes is the ubiquitous mould part-line the SAP6 a lot handier as a backpack- down the centreline as expected, but ing gun, and some will see it as advan- it is discreet. Aside from one minor tageous in competition, such as 3-Gun spot, there were no sharp edges to be events. Naturally, a shorter barrel also found. The aluminum receiver anodiz- reduces the length of the tube directly ing matches the plastic colour almost below the barrel, which would normally perfectly. serve as the tube magazine. Instead, Overall, I found this to be a satisfy- this gun uses detachable box maga- ing and fun gun to shoot. A very mod- zines. It comes with two, six-round erate $699 buys this well-made and detachable magazines as standard, reliable fun-gun. Manufactured by Dag- with an 11-round magazine available as ger of Turkey, the SAP6 is imported ex- an option. Since it is not a semi-auto, clusively by Tactical Imports Corp., of there are no magazine capacity limits. Mississauga, Ont.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 1 5 Government As A Malignant Santa

By Gary Mauser

1 6 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Government As A Malignant Santa

By Gary Mauser

rudeau won the 2015 federal elec- and become arrogant. While some gov- tion by campaigning for an ever- ernment is useful, even necessary, it re- Texpanding federal government mains true that a smaller government with a grab bag of promises. Among the is preferable. Remember, the price paid hundreds of jaw-dropping promises the for government delivering important “The problem Trudeau Liberals made during the cam- services is the loss of individual liberty. paign were assurances that they would What the government gives can be just with socialism is eliminate crime and violence by repeal- as easily be taken away. ing the Harper government’s gun laws. The recently elected Liberal govern- that sooner or Since the election, this is one of the few ment poses an immediate threat to our promises that has not been repudiated gun rights, and even our economic live- later you run out by the new government. Indeed, it was lihoods. Ottawa promises to roll back emphasized in the throne speech. We previous relaxations of the gun regula- of other people’s are back on the road to disarmament. tions and to add further restrictions. Apparently, the Liberals believe (or This is incremental disarmament. No money.” think the public believes) that govern- one knows where it will lead. Canada ment is akin to Santa Claus or the Tooth may remain a benevolent despotism, or Fairy – a benevolent god, happily bring- it may not. Margaret Thatcher, ing free stuff. However attractive such In the 2016 budget, the government an idea may be, it is dangerously wrong. plunged Canada into massive debt. former PM, UK Nothing is free. All gifts come with costs. Based on airy promises, Trudeau plans Government gains power by encourag- to run deficits totaling more than $115 ing people to become dependent, much billion over the next five years — with like a drug dealer who encourages a no plans to get out of debt. Justin is fol- lifelong habit by giving out free samples lowing in his father’s footsteps. It took and flattery. Will the government con- three governments (Brian Mulroney, tinue to be as generous once you have Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper) to become addicted? finally pay off Pierre Trudeau’s massive Don’t get the wrong idea; some gov- debt load. Who will be blamed when ernment is necessary. For instance, Canada runs into financial problems in where would we be without the rule of the future? law? As well, an impartial police force Governments that promise more is undeniably important in controlling than they can deliver eventually run out crime and violence. We also depend of other people’s money. Governments upon the government to guard our that run massive debts, every year, with borders. Unfortunately, no government no plan to balance the budget or pay knows when to stop expanding. Too eas- back their debts, unsurprisingly, even- ily, government can grow too powerful tually crash and burn. The US offers a

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 1 7 The recently elected Liberal government poses an immediate threat to our gun rights, and even our economic livelihoods.

member of the international community; its Jewish citizens assimilated. But after losing the First World War, the fledgling Weimar government couldn’t provide financial stability, and Germany collapsed into chaos. When Hitler was elected in the 1930s, he used the well- intended gun regulations, instituted by the previous government, to confiscate firearms registered to Jews, whom he blamed for Germany’s problems. The holocaust soon followed. Germany is not alone in scapegoat- ing minorities. In the former USSR, Sta- lin blamed “class traitors,” Ukrainian nationalists, as well as bourgeois reac- tionaries for the problems of the So- viet Union; while Comrade Mao accused counter revolutionaries and rightists for his economic and political failures in glaring example. Obama was elected it suited their purposes, some regimes China. The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia by promising economic miracles, but even became murderous. The atrocities targeted intellectuals, evidence of which his promises collided with reality. Now, by Islamic terrorists, both in Europe and was wearing spectacles. Canada, too, Americans are angry and looking for Iraq, as well as the slaughter of Chris- has a history of racism and scapegoat- a scapegoat. Trump blames illegal im- tians across the Middle East, suggest ing. During the Second World War, Japa- migrants, while Bernie Sanders attacks that governments have not changed in nese Canadians were summarily round- the one per cent. No one knows what the 21st century. ed up, had their property confiscated the future holds. Desperate governments look for and were put into internment camps. Things could get worse. A lot worse. scapegoats. Back in 1900, few people Less well known is that during the First In the 20th century, many governments would have predicted that Germany World War, Ukrainian Canadians were in- around the world that started as benev- would virtually eliminate a minority in terned and required to work for private olent, in time, turned malignant. When genocide. Germany was a respected industrialists. In the 19th century, Italian and Irish immigrants were disarmed and discriminated against (Blake 2012). War is considered evil because of the death and destruction it causes. There are various estimates about how many people died in wars during the 20th century, but the most prominent authority, Professor Rummel of the University of Hawaii, estimates that during the 20th century approximately 35 million people died in wars – including both civilians and military personnel and those killed in undeclared wars such as the Korean war. That is horrible enough, but Profes- sor Rummel also calculates that, during that same century, governments inten- tionally murdered many more civilians than were killed in all the violent conflicts combined.

When Hitler was elected in the 1930s, he used the well-intended gun regulations, instituted by the previous government, to confiscate firearms registered to Jews.

1 8 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Approximately 262 million people them. (Rummel 1986) were deliberately murdered by their The foregoing puts current concerns References own government during the 20th cen- about violent crime into perspective. Brown, R. Blake. Arming and Disarming, A history of gun control in Canada. 2012 tury, not including war deaths (Rum- During the entire 20th century, crimi- mel 1994). The best estimates are that, nals (outside of government) are esti- InfoUkes. Internment of Ukrainians in Canada 1914-1920 http://www.infoukes. in addition to war casualties, the Nazis mated to have murdered 8.5 to 10 mil- com/history/internment/ (National Socialists) murdered about lion people (Necrometrics). Guns. Liberal Party of Canada. https:// 21 million people, over eight million of How could governments kill so many www.liberal.ca/realchange/guns/ whom were Jews; the Russian Commu- people? Many factors play a role, not all Necrometrics. Estimated Totals for the nists murdered at least another 62 mil- of which are understood. Certainly, eco- Entire 20th Century. http://necromet- lion, including political opponents and nomic conditions can be crucial. When a rics.com/all20c.htm#Murders Ukrainian farmers starved to death in government that promises more than it Rummel, Rudolph J. Death by Govern- the Holodomor. Under Mao, the Chinese can deliver eventually runs out of other ment. 1994 https://www.hawaii.edu/ Communists murdered approximately people’s money, politicians often find powerkills/20TH.HTM 76 million political opponents and rural it easier to blame someone else rather Rummel, Rudolph J. War Isn’t This Cen- populations. Unfortunately, these are than to accept responsibility. Democra- tury’s Biggest Killer. Wall Street Jour- not isolated examples. Even the Allied cy provides no protection. The people, nal. July 7, 1986 https://www.hawaii. Democracies, primarily the US and the in their wisdom, have often elected sav- edu/powerkills/WSJ.ART.HTM United Kingdom, participated in mass iors to rescue them, only to discover murder. After the Second World War, that they have chosen tyrants. As well, more than he can deliver, but to keep his the Allied democracies turned over to scapegoats are more likely, if there is a base happy he needs to deliver some- Soviet authorities more than 2,250,000 convenient minority to blame, such as thing, and, unsurprisingly, that will be Soviet citizens, prisoners of war and the rich, recent immigrants or perhaps more gun restrictions. After the next Russian exiles (who were not Soviet citi- global warming deniers. It’s not clear terrorist atrocity, Trudeau will need a zens) found in the Allied zones of occu- what role ethnic diversity plays in this convenient scapegoat. Instead of crack- pation in Europe. Most of these people process, but certain groups seem to be ing down on Muslim criminals, I predict were terrified of the consequences of singled out more than others. Unfortu- he will blame peaceable gun owners repatriation and refused to co-operate nately, disarmed scapegoats are more and continue to disarm Canadians. As in their repatriation; often whole fami- easily rounded up. Obama’s former White House chief of lies preferred suicide. Of those, the Al- Don’t be fooled by politicians’ prom- staff, Rahm Emanuel, said, “Never let lied Democracies repatriated an esti- ises. They are just fishing for votes, a serious crisis go to waste.” It is reas- mated 795,000 were executed, or died and, naturally, bait always hides a hook. suring to believe that genocides could in slave-labour camps or in transit to Trudeau came to power by promising never happen here.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 1 9 2 0 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 For Footwear Shooters An important part of shooting success By Jeff Helsdon

Ask a handful of shooters what they think is important Action shooters for success in the shooting sports, including hunting, and While the Olympics are seen as the pinnacle of competitive the answers are likely to cover a gamut of topics related to shooting, many shooters take their game seriously at other the gun itself, the ammunition or perhaps mental concen- types of competition, as well. Edward Osborne, of Alberta, tration. Chances are, no one will mention footwear. competes in 3-Gun competition in western Canada. He sees everything from running shoes to military boots on the feet of competitors. With 3-Gun, like IPSC, movement is about short Olympic shooters sprints in controlled areas. Yet, what’s on your feet can be an important part of success. “We run to a shooting point, stop and shoot, then take off It’s so important there are eight rules in the Olympic regula- again,” Osborne told me. He favours a Salomon SpeedCross tions dealing with footwear in rifle competition. Patrick Haynes, on his feet. “They’re a running shoe with a little more tread,” who manages the Olympic shooting program for Canada, is a he added. “They sell it as a trail runner.” He has three dif- former national pistol coach and vice president of the High Per- ferent options for footwear he often wears – the Salomons, formance Shooting Federation of Canada. He explained that hiking boots and a pair of Merrell runners. “The hiking boots footwear provides stability for the shooter. This is the most im- and runner don’t get worn that often because it has to be a portant in rifle events and, to a lesser extent, in pistol. perfect environment for those – crappy and muddy for hikers, “We’re looking at one-hundredth of a point, so any advan- or clear and dry for runners.” tage you can get will help,” he said. For pistol and rifle shoot- Another popular option for 3-Gun shooters is Under Ar- ers, the upper material is allowed to be above the ankle, but mour Multi-Cam boots, which Osborne described as a running it is regulated how high up the leg the material can go. “By shoe with a bit more height. Other competitors prefer Danner supporting the ankle, you’re immobilized in the sitting and military-style boots. Osborne said some events require full kneeling position.” body armour, and military boots are a must at those events. Olympic shooters often have shoes or boots with a square Sean Hanson, regional director of IPSC Canada, said he has toe. “When you’re in the kneeling position, there is better con- seen all kinds of surfaces on IPSC ranges, varying from gravel tact with the ground and it immobilizes the foot,” he explained. or cement to decking and grass. Even flexibility of footwear is regulated for rifle shooters, as “Throw in a little rain and that will add a whole new ele- well as the material for the sole and uppers. Haynes said flex- ment,” he said. ibility is tested with a machine and a walking test, even though The footwear chosen by competitors varies from cleats to the concept of being able to walk in a shoe or a boot sounds tennis shoes, depending on the surface. Salomon SpeedCross simple. “I kid you not,” he said, “people were producing mate- are one popular option. Hanson said what competitors wear rial they can hardly walk in. If people walk oddly, it could be on their feet can better enable them to move between shoot- because of a boot infraction.” ing positions. Every four years, new rules come out and inevitably the “It’s being able to move from one position to another quickly number of regulations grows. Haynes pointed to a saying that and being able to stop,” he said. “It makes a big difference.” for every rule in the Olympic regulations, there’s a name as- sociated with it. “It’s not because everyone was doing something, but one or two people push it to the limit.” Rifle silhouette and the clay games Because of all the regulations, companies have evolved David Johnston, president of the Alberta Silhouette Associ- that make custom footwear for shooters. Sauer and Corami ation, said he’s seen just about every kind of footwear available. were mentioned as examples that meet Olympic standards. “Some of the most successful rifle silhouette shooters use Haynes said many pistol shooters start with suede desert a comfortable pair of running shoes,” he said. “Hiking boots boots, since they have a flat sole and no heel. Skateboard are often used where the user feels a little more ankle support shoes are also popular. But, when the competitive level gets may provide a steadier hold.” higher, so too does the type of footwear worn. From my own time on trap and sporting clays ranges, I’ve Footwear isn’t as critical to Olympic trap and skeet shoot- seen many different kinds of footwear, as well. The season of- ers, but it’s still regulated. Competitors can’t have an open toe ten dictates what the shooter wears to feel comfortable. In- or open heel. Crocs aren’t allowed either. terclub trap shooting in Ontario comes into its own during the “It’s more of a safety thing, but it’s also aesthetics,” Haynes winter. Needless to say, warm winter boots are the preferred said. “One of the driving things with Olympics now is how we wear. Sporting clays shooters often wear hiking boots, as the present our athletes. You couldn’t walk out onto a shooting trails through the forest can get muddy if there have been range wearing jeans – you would be removed.” recent rains.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 2 1 For the hunter For western hunters chasing mule deer, elk or birds in Providing a stable shooting platform is less of a concern to mountainous terrain, he said the company’s Gila line is popu- the hunter than choosing a boot that provides ankle support, lar because it provides protection with a wider toe box. The warmth, traction and, in some cases, is scent free. Pronghorn line is also popular. What’s needed to hunt moose and deer in the wetlands “Typically, higher terrain or rocky terrain means you want and forests of eastern Canada differs from a boot needed something to give protection from rocks and provide sup- to navigate the mountainous terrain of the west. In general, port,” Currah said. The Gila also has a more aggressive out- rubber or waterproof boots are more popular in the east, sole. The boot itself is fastened to the outsole with special and leather boots with more support in the west. Scent pro- stitching as well as traditional cement. Currah explained this tection is a desirable feature for those pursuing ungulates makes the outsole wider and more stable. and bruins with a great sense of smell. When winter hits, “If you’re hunting in the west, you’re likely also involved footwear styles change, with warmth being the most impor- in a high-intensity hike, so we always encourage hunters to tant factor. The Pac boot, first introduced by Sorel in 1962, is select a hunting boot that has some of the same features as still a popular choice. a pure hiking boot,” said Ryan Maisenbacher, outdoor mar- Gone are the days when leather hunting boots were heavy keting manager for Rocky Boots. “You want the boots to be and cumbersome. My pair of leather Danner Pronghorns is lightweight, waterproof and un-insulated, with a durable and some of the most comfortable footwear I own, more comfort- aggressive outsole.” able than most runners. Hunters in the east don’t have the same mountains to deal A couple of manufacturers I spoke with provided insight on with as their western counterparts. Rubber boots are popular their product lines for hunters. amongst eastern hunters. “First and foremost, determine the landscape and try to “Those hunting in the east will also want to take tempera- match the terrain to what you’re wearing,” said Chris Currah, tures into account when selecting a boot,” Maisenbacher said. hunting product manager for Lacrosse and Danner. The latter is a line of leather hunting boots, while LaCrosse is known for its rubber/neoprene boots, but carries all things hunting from leather to waders.

Providing a stable shooting platform is less of a concern to All clay sports are shot on your feet, so the hunter than choosing a boot that provides ankle support, stability and comfort is needed. A bullet- warmth, traction and, in some cases, is scent free. proof toe doesn’t hurt either.

2 2 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 “Wearing boots with an insulation level that’s right for the who bought the Sharptail slip-on boots. When Currah found area and time of year can make a world of difference in the he was hunting chukar in the mountains, he knew the problem field. You also want waterproof protection and an outsole de- was he needed the support of a traditional lace-up boot. signed for the cold, wet ground.” Although the concern for Canadian hunters in some areas Danner’s sister company, LaCrosse, is best known for their of the west and north is large carnivores with sharp teeth, neoprene and rubber boots. The Alphaburly Pro is a 3.5 mil- instead of reptiles with poison-injecting fangs, there are parts limetre neoprene boot with hand-laid rubber over top. “You of the country where snake boots should be considered. Tech- get cushioning and warmth from the neoprene and abrasion nology has come a long way with these products, as well. I re- resistance and durability from the rubber,” Currah said. These member a couple of turkey hunts in New York where hunters boots are available with different levels of insulation. were wearing snake boots. Thinking there was the possibility LaCrosse’s AeroHead Sport uses a different technology. It of venomous snakes, I asked and was told in both cases that has a similar neoprene sock, but instead of rubber over top, it the snake boots were so comfortable they often wear them has a polyurethane injection shell both on top and under the hunting, even when there is no possibility of encountering a footbed. This is lighter and adds comfort. venomous reptile. “When rubber is cold, it’s hard and stiff and holds the cold, whereas polyurethane acts as an insulator,” Currah said. “In- In summary stead of having to use Thinsulate, that polyurethane, along Did you notice the similar themes among all these shoot- with different thicknesses of neoprene, provides insulation.” ing sports? Words like comfort, support, traction, stability, Bird hunters would appreciate Danner’s Sharptail upland warmth and waterproofing seem to be universal. It seems that hunting boot. It’s a lower boot, better in long grass. Currah if you carry a gun in your hands and are looking for success warned that hunters need to look at the terrain as much as in your chosen shooting sport, you should give some serious the boot. He recalls one unhappy customer, an upland hunter thought to what’s on your feet, as well.

The weather isn’t always sunny for the shooting sports.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 2 3 Shooting Heavy Metal Guns & gear for 3-Gun’sbo Bigrne Bore division By Edward Os like an AR-15, you will only be taking the mini XCR- with a little tinkering M to the range. It’s also expensive. At they can become great shooters. There’s $3,200, it’s a similar investment to a s far as I’m concerned, 3-Gun also room to grow and upgrade, with Ca- premium AR-10 platform rifle. The third competition is about the best fun nadian companies like M14.ca producing concession may or may not matter to Ayou can have with a firearm. The aftermarket optic mounts, handguards you, depending on what kind of match- obstacle course of solving shooting puz- and stocks to enhance the platform. es you attend. Ballistically, .308 rounds zles using rifles, pistols and shotguns The M14 also has the significant ad- pumped through a nine-inch barrel has taken the US by storm, and is gain- vantage of magazine compatibility. Al- aren’t getting close to their maximum ing popularity in Canada. Heavy Metal though the factory magazines are all lim- velocity. They may only barely be ex- is the least populated and perhaps the ited to five under Canadian law, 10-round ceeding 2,000 feet per second. Fortu- most demanding variant of 3-Gun. magazines for the AIA bolt-action rifle nately, there’s no requirement on how When competing in the Heavy Metal will fit the M305 magazine well. These hard a target must be hit. Making your class, your stages are the same as oth- smaller profile magazines fit quite tight- hits is all that counts. When most 3-Gun er competitors, but the gear you use ly, and will offer an additional challenge targets are well inside 300 yards, that’s changes. To qualify, all three firearms to reloading. But when you only have to do-able with a short barrel. have additional restrictions: reload half as often, they are a fantastic If accuracy is your game, the FAMAE investment for a competition set up. SG542 is the clear champion. Based on • Rifles must be .308 calibre or larger The primary limitation of the M305/ a Swiss design, this Chilean semi-auto • Handguns must be .45 calibre or M14 pattern rifles is their 1950s heri- produced the tightest groups by a fair larger tage. The magazine release, bolt release margin. With an adjustable trigger, and • Shotguns must be 12-gauge, pump and safety are all clearly from the Cold a decent optics mount, you can certain- action and must use a conventional War era. Ergonomics are a secondary ly qualify the SG542 as a precision rifle. tube magazine consideration to ease of industrial pro- It’s major drawback for Heavy Metal is duction and manufacturing. The me- the magazine capacity. While the other Beyond the calibre restrictions, there chanics of removing an empty maga- two rifles have access to 10-round alter- is one more crucial rule change for zine, inserting a new one and releasing natives, the SG542 can only function Heavy Metal shooters that transforms the bolt to chamber the first round re- with its factory five-round magazine. It’s the game: paper targets now only require substantially more effort and ma- also got a lot of forward weight, which quire one hit to neutralize. This is a very nipulation with the M305 than our next isn’t as well suited to running and gun- good thing when you’re buying match rifle, the Robinson Arms XCR-M Pistol. ning. The nice thing is that it’s non-re- grade .308 rounds and crates of .45 ACP. Technically it’s still a pistol under stricted. So on your off season, you can In the US, Heavy Metal is often seen Canadian law. But being chambered still be out in the woods chasing deer. as the realm of expensive AR-10s, col- in .308 means that a competitor can lectible Colt 1911s and a small fortune use it as their rifle. And the 10-round Shotgun spent in gear. But a competitive set up magazines give this nine-inch barrelled When it comes to selecting a shot- doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a .308 gun a wallop. An aftermarket AR- gun, the key requirement is the pump leg. In this article, we lay out a selection style buttstock certainly helps. action. Most 3-Gunners are running a 12 of Canadian equipment alternatives. Hands down, this is my rifle choice. gauge already, but eschewing the mod- The weight is unbeatable, it points like ern semi-auto is part of what makes Rifles a dream and the mechanical manipula- Heavy Metal a real challenge. When it comes to the rifles, the best tions are second to none. The safety, For any beginner on a budget, I’d budget solution for a beginner is, hands magazine release and bolt release are strongly suggest exploring the options down, the Norinco M305. These Chinese all ambidextrous, and all positioned con- coming out of Turkey right now. There clones are reasonably well built and can veniently close to your firing hand. are a wide range of manufacturers and regularly be purchased for around $500. But, of course, there are two (maybe models currently being imported into The factory rifle is an authentic recre- three) concessions you have to make Canada. While none are particularly atro- ation of the 1950s USGI M14 rifle, and to ride the lightning. It’s restricted, so, cious, I’d suggest picking a manufacturer

24 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016

If accuracy is your game, the FAMAE SG542 is the clear champion. with an established history in the coun- cess to the loading port that lets shoot- try. The Hatsan MP pump can be scooped ers top up while on the move between up for just a hair over $350, and is a com- firing positions. petitive gun right out of the box. With a My preferred pump gun comes in the 20-inch barrel and a seven-round maga- form of a Mossberg 500 tactical. With a zine tube, you’re very close to division true eight-round magazine tube out of capacity right off the bat. For the dollars the box, low profile XS sights and a wide spent, it’s hard not to love the Hatsan, range of aftermarket support, the 500 but there are some limitations for the series shotguns can be found under Turkish gun. You’ll be hard pressed to the $500 threshold. There are plenty find aftermarket accessories, and when of aftermarket accessories, too. Later it comes to serious gaming, the pistol down the line, if you’re looking for an grip stock can be something of a liability. enhanced pump, stock or sights, they’ll In the tactical and law enforcement be easy to come by. school of shotguns, feeding more shells It’s worth noting that if you’re pre- into the tube happens while holding the pared to breach that $500 price point, shotgun upright, with the muzzle to- the upgraded 590A1 models can be wards the sky. Shells are loaded individ- bought with a nine-round magazine di- ually from this position, while still look- rectly from the factory. That puts you at ing down-range towards the theoretical division capacity right out of the box. danger. In the gaming world, you’re not assessing threats. Your only goal is to Handgun load more rounds, fast! One of the most There’s no shortage of excellent .45 popular methods is to flip the shotgun pistols available in Canada, but entry upside down, and cradle it under the el- costs are often high. Setting a price ceil- bow of your firing arm. This gives you a ing of $1,000 will strike a good balance clear view of the loading port and allows between cost and quality. talented shooters to load two, three or For the absolute bottom dollar, a Chi- even four shells simultaneously into the nese made Norinco 1911 will get you into tube. With the MPA’s pistol grip sticking the game. However, the 1911 is a notorious- up, you lose some of that clean, easy ac- ly temperamental platform, and I would

2 6 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Seraphim Armory. I couldn’t resist a six-inch barrel version from Shooter’s Armory, and have found it an absolute blast to shoot. Some shooters may find the extended sight radius improves accuracy, but I was primarily interested in the increased slide mass keeping muzzle flip to a minimum. At $890, the SAM is definitely affordable. And there are some cheap and simple upgrades you can do that will help your shooting. I found the factory cocobolo grips to be a little wide for my hands, and spent $20 on a set of Magpul aftermarket grips that improved my grip and my access to the magazine release. While I love the fibre optic front sight, I found the white dots on the rear sight distracting. A quick dab with perma- nent marker is a heck of a lot cheaper A long-slide Shooter’s Armory 1911 in 45 ACP makes for a good Heavy Metal handgun. and easier than buying and installing a blacked out Novak rear sight. Remem- argue that it is not well suited to looser ability. Not a great gun for competition. ber: not every upgrade has to be bought. manufacturing tolerances. My first hand- Today, I still enjoy the 1911 platform, Heavy Metal is something of an en- gun was a Norinco .45, and out of eight and with a little care and quality control dangered class, with fewer shooters magazines I found three that would feed there are still budget options for a start- competing. But it offers a unique and reliably in my firearm. Ammunition was ing shooter. So far, I’ve been impressed interesting shooting experience for equally picky, with only Remington UMC with the guns coming out of the Philip- Canadians, one you wouldn’t find any- functioning with about 95 per cent reli- pines from both Shooters Armory and where else.

My preferred pump gun comes in the form of a Mossberg 500 tactical.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 2 7 The Mossberg Flex 500 System Providing platform options for shotgunners By Brad Fenson

Modern technologies and manufac- Slug hunting it had more to offer. I took a friend bear turing techniques are continually giv- I started with a Mossberg Flex 500 hunting and put the pistol grip on the ing us more products that are multi- pump gun in 20-gauge, using the gun for shotgun to use it for close-up bear de- purpose. There are knives with gutting a spring bear hunt. I put a black synthetic fence in case we had to do any tracking. blades that swing over to become skin- stock on it, and adjusted the length of pull For self-defence and close encoun- ning ones. There’s clothing with mul- at the butt by pushing a button and slid- ters, I can’t help but remember reading tiple layers that can be taken away or ing the recoil pad back until it was the per- Peter Hathaway Capstick’s recounts of added, depending on conditions, in- fect length. I was shooting Hornady Lite tracking wounded leopards in Africa. cluding pants with legs that zip off to sabot slugs with reduced recoil, which, in He wore a football helmet and catcher’s make them shorts. The gun world has most bear hunting circles, would be con- chest protector with groin extension, seen the development of multi-purpose sidered diminutive. To round out the hunt- and, most importantly, carried a pump rifles, with interchangeable barrels and ing equipment, I topped the shotgun with shotgun. The old smoothbore packs a forends. These have been popular and a Swarovski Z6 1-6X24 with illuminated tremendous punch at close range, al- offer a capability ranging from plinking reticle. This is a great scope for quickly lows you to acquire the target quickly to big game hunting with the same basic acquiring a target, in tight quarters. with a single bead on the end of the bar- platform. Some even offer single-shot When I zeroed the gun, I was sur- rel and operates without failure when it shotgun or muzzleloader barrels. What prised to find it capable of shooting counts the most. I didn’t wear the extra they don’t provide is a completely dif- one-inch groups at 100 metres. In fact, it paraphernalia, but was confident the ferent firearm. shot a textbook cloverleaf. I have some shotgun would provide the stopping We buy specialty shotguns for hunt- centrefire rifles that don’t shoot that power I needed if required. ing upland birds, waterfowl or for shoot- well, but to be fair, I’d have to put better ing clays. There is some overlap, but optics on them for a real comparison. The shotgun if you show up at the skeet club with The Mossberg Flex 500 is a straight- your favourite duck gun, you usually Wing shooting with forward, pump-action shotgun fed generate a few cocked eyebrows. And, multiple shooters from a conventional five-round tubular that duck gun is a far cry from a quick, In the fall, I used the camouflage butt magazine. The barrel is easily removed shoot-from-the-hip defender. The real and forend with the smoothbore barrel by loosening the screw cap at the end question is, can one shotgun provide for pheasant hunting. A release button of the magazine tube. The bolt in the the performance and utility of a number on the side of the forend allows it to Model 500 uses a single locking lug that of specialty guns? be removed and replaced with differ- cams upwards into a matching hole in The short answer is yes. And it’s ent options. The barrel is threaded for the barrel extension. The gun has an embodied in Mossberg’s Flex 500 sys- interchangeable chokes, and it worked ambidextrous sliding safety on the rear tem, which allows users to interchange extremely well to collect a few roosters curve of the receiver, and the action’s buttstocks, forends and barrels. The and Hungarian partridge. release button is located at the left system provides an incredible amount I also purchased some 20-gauge rear of the trigger guard. The twin ac- of flexibility, and that is obviously steel shot, and my wife used the gun to tion bars run the action smoothly and where the name comes from. The Flex hunt waterfowl last fall. We adjusted the prevent it from binding when torqued or 500 system allows the shotgun owner stock and length of pull to fit her, and it operated hard and fast. As most shoot- to change just about everything con- made a world of difference. She shot a ers know, the 500 action is designed to nected to the gun’s receiver, to cover triple on big Canada geese that tipped be tough and can take a lot of abuse and applications including slug hunting, the scale at close to 35 pounds. Later in continue working. waterfowl and upland birds, home de- the day, she changed choke tubes and fence, 3-Gun competition and tactical shot three ruffed grouse. The Flex system applications. I’ve found the system is The innovative Flex system is a tool- easy to use and well put together, hav- Defence less, locking system that is easy to use. ing used it and the various components The gun proved itself many times Flex components are designed to be in the following applications. over in hunting applications, but I knew removed and remounted in seconds.

2 8 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016

Accessories include three recoil pad buttstock, push completely onto the lug, thicknesses of clothing worn by the same thicknesses and railed, standard and rotate the locking pin and push it down user. There is a set of release buttons on camouflage forends. into place. The stocks fit tight and solid the bottom end of the buttstock where The Flex buttstock system uses a lug with zero play. I’ve done a lot of shoot- the recoil pad lifts up and off. These allow in the rear of the receiver, which allows ing with this system and found it to with- a different size to be slid on and locked different buttstocks to be attached or stand all the recoil with no loosening. in place. Everyone in my family played removed quickly and easily. A locking The straight or hunting buttstocks with the assortment of buttstocks and pin holds the stock to the lug and has are available in short, medium and long recoil pads to find the most comfortable a horseshoe-shaped slide to grasp. Pull sizes. Mossberg even offers several dif- fit, and everyone from youth to full-sized up on the horseshoe and rotate it 90 de- ferent sizes of Flex recoil pads that can adult found a proper fit. grees to release the pin. This allows you be quickly changed out to accommo- to pull the stock off the lug. To attach a date different shooters or even different

Can one shotgun provide the performance and utility of a number of specialty guns? I started with a Mossberg Flex 500 pump gun in 20-gauge, using the gun for a spring bear hunt.

3 0 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Even tactical Purchase options available in 12-gauge, as well as the Tactical models come standard with You can purchase the Flex 500 as 20-gauge version I’ve been using tri-rail forends, which provide accessory a hunting model or tactical unit. Add over the last year. touchpad accommodation. This means the components you want or need While the Mossberg Flex 500 offers flashlights and lasers can all be attached to get the most from your shotgun, more options than Mr. Gadget has under and manipulated easily. A Picatinny rail or make it useable for a number of his trench coat, the basic action is the offers more flexibility to customize the shooters. Mossberg has even made legendary 500, which is so well known shotgun. There’s even an AR-like tacti- special gun cases, allowing you to for reliability. If you’re looking for one cal buttstock, which is easily adjustable store the extra components no mat- gun to perform a lot of duties, this is a for length. ter where you travel. Of course, it’s system worth considering.

Available in a number of pairings or individually, Flex components are all interchangeable. This is the deer/ defence combo.

I started with a Mossberg Flex 500 pump gun in 20-gauge, using the gun for a spring bear hunt.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 3 1 The .455 Eley Cartridge Handloading one of the confusing British .455s By Bob Shell

3 2 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 The .455 Eley Cartridge Handloading one of the confusing British .455s By Bob Shell

n the decades on either side of 1900, the British produced an assortment Iof various revolver cartridges, uni- versally labeled as being of .455 calibre. Listing and sorting the variations is worthy of more space than is available to me here, and trying to make sense of it will make your head hurt. But the ver- sions most seen in North America are known as the 455 Eley and the 455 We- bley. Technically, the former is the 455 Revolver Mk I, and the latter the 455 Re- volver Mk II. The 455 Eley is also called the 455 Colt and the 455 Enfield. And, yes, the 455 Webley will work just fine in it, because the case is just a little bit shorter. See what I mean? It’s confusing, but that also makes it interesting. Anyway, I recently obtained a Cana- dian military revolver in 455 Eley. My revolver is a large-framed Colt, a well- made specimen. It is tight and in good condition, but like most of the double- action guns of the period, the double- action pull is brutally hard. Maybe the people of the period had stronger hands, or perhaps it was shot single-action most of the time. I don’t have big or strong hands, so I shoot it single-action only, and the trigger in that mode isn’t too bad. The Webley revolver I have also has a heavy trigger pull. The British and Canadians used a .455 round, of some type, as late as 1945. The Royal North West Mounted Police used this cartridge even as late as after the name change to RCMP. During the 1904 Thompson La-Garde test on the stopping power of bullets, the 455 Eley rated higher than the 45 Colt. Considering that the Colt round was more powerful, that is a surprise. It could have been the shape of the bullet, or the extra time an Eley bullet spent in the target. The British always felt that a slow-moving, heavy bullet was more effective then a smaller and faster round. The heavy and soft bullet of the .455 readily expanded, even at the velocities

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 3 3 that the Eley round produced. In 1907, factory load is at least 50 years old, but with the mild loads commonly used. The The Hague Convention prohibited the it shot well. The 255-grain lead bullet original diameter is .455, but .452 slugs use of expanding bullets, so the Webley produced a reasonably consistent ve- can be used if they are cast and prefer- and Eley rounds went to a full metal- locity in the 755 feet per second range. ably soft. A hollow base bullet in .452 jacketed bullet. That caused the stop- Fiocchi still makes ammunition using a would be desirable and accurate. ping power to go down and it wasn’t as 262-grain lead bullet, at 660 feet per I use standard 45 ACP dies to load accurate, as it did not grip the rifling as second, which is close to military specs. the British .455s, but the correct well as the older bullet did. Even when It is presently listed in their catalogue, shellholder is a must. I loaded some they went to the 38-200, a 200-grain but I am not sure how available it is. shortened 45 Colt cases, starting with bullet was used again, as they felt that Blackhorn 209 powder (a modern it was a better fight stopper. Handloading blackpowder substitute) to get an idea Many Webley break-open revolvers Unfortunately, the Webley and Eley of what to expect. The Colt cases are are chambered for the 455 Webley/Eley cases are difficult to get. Until recent- thicker near the bottom, which reduces round. Introduced in 1887, they replaced ly, Hornady offered the 455 Webley their capacity somewhat. Sometimes the 476 Enfield, which wasn’t consid- cases, but no longer. The 45 Colt case one grain of powder can make a large ered satisfactory. The original order can be used to make up handloads, difference, as with the 250-grain loads. called for 10,000 units and, of course, but it has to be shortened and the rim That is why when working up handgun more were purchased later. The British thinned to work. loads, increases should be in small used the Webley design until 1963 with The 455 Eley, also known as 455 amounts. That is especially true with the 38-200 round. However, the .455s Colt, is the longest case used in the .455 older guns and formed cases. were dropped in 1947. Like most service series of rounds utilized by the British. With my better loads, a palm-size weapons, it was used for years after it It is very close in length to the 45 Auto group at 15 yards is easy to obtain. was declared obsolete. Rim, which makes it possible to use that Someone who is a better shot and bet- case by just thinning the rim. Starline ter sights on the revolver would no Factory ammunition makes 45 Auto Rim cases, which makes doubt result in tighter groups. A lighter I have some old Dominion ammuni- that project practical. trigger would also be beneficial. For tion, which I chronographed and found Once you have the cases, you are best accuracy, the soft, hollow base bul- to be consistent. This Canadian-made in luck, as they will last many loadings lets seem preferable.

A large Colt revolver, chambered for the 455 Eley.

3 4 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 This Canadian-made factory ammunition is at least 50 years old, but it shot well.

L oad Bullet Velocity Comment 4 grains Herco 200-grain cast 587 feet per second Very light 12 grains BH 209 200-grain cast 576 feet per second Slow but consistent Bullet sources 5 grains Herco 230-grain RN cast 710 feet per second Good load CMA Custom Ammunition: http:// 10 grains BH 209 250-grain cast 509 feet per second Very slow, high SD cmacustomammunition.com/ 5 grains Unique 200-grain cast 1003 feet per second Consistent 5 grains Herco 250 grains 626 feet per second Slow Bob Hayley, Box 889, Seymour, 6 grains Herco 250 grains 920 feet per second Consistent Texas, USA, 76360, 940-888-3352 4.5 grains Herco 275-grain HB 468 feet per second Really slow 4 grains Herco 265-grain HB 632 feet per second Consistent

I have a couple of suppliers – CMA bullets and Bob Hayley – who both make great bullets at reasonable prices. If you want something different, try some 80-grain button bullets. While not practical, they can provide some interesting shooting. You can put two or three bullets in a case, depending on how long the case is. The 230-grain hollow base WC resembles an old British load that was outlawed at The Hague Convention. I always wondered why it is OK to hurl a grenade into a foxhole, but you are not allowed to shoot the enemy with a hollow point. British military handguns have a long and fascinating history. With all of the various rounds they used, it can be confusing, but that is part of the mys- tique. They saw action all over the world and, as a rule, gave good service. There were many variations and for someone studying British military handguns, it can be confusing. I have shot a number of them and it is always an enjoyable learning experience to get these old guns shooting again. F rom left: 450 Adams, 455 Webley and 455 Eley. The British .455s are confusing.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 3 5 Learning precision riflery The Rob Furlong Marksmanship Academy

By Lowell Strauss

My mind veered from the long, straight road in front of my truck and leaped ahead 24 hours. Tomorrow morning I’ll meet Rob Furlong, a Canadian shooting legend. He made the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat during Operation Anaconda in 2002. In the mountains of Afghanistan, he shot an enemy Al Qa- eda fighter from a distance of 2,430 metres – a confirmed distance unsurpassed until 2009. Not only was I going to meet him, but I was attending his Basic Marksmanship Course to improve my skills as a long-range shooter. With some difficulty, I brought my mind back to the highway. I have to get there first!

3 6 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Training with RFMA civilians how to become precision rifle ship principles. This reminded me of my The Rob Furlong Marksmanship shooters? Rob says he felt there was own basic military training, where these Academy (RFMA) focuses on three dif- an appetite for this type of training, principles were posted over every sink ferent types of training. Military and law and at the time there was no equivalent and toilet in our barracks. I learned the enforcement training are two of them. course in Canada. Precision shooting importance of these principles then, and This training is aimed at professionals, is one of the shooting sports growing this friendly reminder made me smile. with courses tailored to their specific in popularity and Furlong wants to see The course starts with the basics, needs. But they also conduct civilian the sport flourish. Long-range rifle sys- which is perfect for those getting started training courses, which includes three tems topped with powerful optics are in rifle shooting. For those of us with a bit levels of precision rifle training, as well available to the average shooter, but more experience, the early lessons served as pistol and carbine instruction. learning how to use them is not easily as a good review. By the end of the first Rob does much of the teaching him- learned from a book. day, my hand was sore from writing down Learning all the information and tips. If you come to self, but has also recruited the best instructors in the field. These include one of these courses with an open mind, snipers retired from Furlong’s former The course even skilled shooters will discover new regiment, the Princess Patricia’s Cana- Precision Rifle I tricks to improve their game. dian Light Infantry, as well as active law Fundamentally, Precision Rifle I, for Hitting a distant target starts by un- enforcement sharpshooters. A high in- civilians, teaches the marksmanship derstanding and applying both the tech- structor-to-student ratio means plenty component of the Canadian Forces’ Ba- nical, physical and mental aspects of of individual attention, both in the class- sic Designated Marksman course, but shooting. When all three come together, room and on the firing line. Instructors with no tactics, for obvious reasons. incredible shots are possible – like Fur- teach with clear verbal instructions, as The principles of good marksmanship long’s 2,430-metre record-breaker. precision well as by example, a technique that al- are the same whether you’re a military lows all learning styles to absorb and sniper, competitive shooter, hunter or Technical apply the information. Olympic target shooter. It starts with gear. Rifles, optics and So why would a former military One of the first handouts we re- ammunition need to be up to the chal- riflery sniper open a shooting school to train ceived was the four basic marksman- lenge. A rifle needs to be of sufficient The Rob Furlong Marksmanship Academy

By Lowell Strauss

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 3 7 accuracy to put hits on target. Stu- adjustable turrets. The knobs are grad- Physical dents can bring their own equipment uated in either MOA or milliradians The physical side of shooting can or, like I did, use one of the rifles from (MILS) so that adjustments are repeat- be learned by anyone. In fact, some of RFMA. Rental rifles (CDX-30) made able. While most brands of optics he’s the better shooters on course were first by CADEX Defence are chambered in seen stand up to the rigors of two days time shooters. Why? Because they came 308 Win. These rifles are topped with of shooting, Furlong noted that some to the course ready to learn and were a Leupold Mark 6 scope. Hornady riflescopes do not make it to the end of coached how to shoot properly, without match ammunition can be purchased the course without failure. If in doubt as the need to overcome bad habits that on location. The 168-grain A-Max to the best optic to purchase for your ri- some of the more experienced shooters bullets shoot very well out of these fle, Rob is willing to discuss the options had developed. rifle systems. with you before you purchase a tactical Once shooters were properly posi- Optics for long-range shooting have scope of your own. tioned behind their rifles, we learned how to fit the rifle to our body. Ad- justable stock and cheek pieces customize fit to the individual. Working in two-person teams, we helped each other fit the rifle properly. I knew when it was right when everything felt comfortable. Next came setting up the riflescopes. This was done by first removing the scopes from the rifles. This did not phase those of us using course rifles, but triggered an unhappy response from the individuals using their own equipment. Many of these students had burned through precious ammunition zeroing optics on their own time. Never- theless, all of the riflescopes came off. They needed to be mounted properly, to a single standard. With the scopes removed, we learned how to focus the eyepiece, and a trick to quickly centre the reticle in the scope tube. With scopes back on the rifle, but before we tightened down the mounts, we adjusted the scopes for eye relief. Next, reticles were levelled in relation to the rifle. Bases and rings were torqued to the proper specifications, and the rifles declared ready to shoot. Optics theory was covered in detail, including first versus second focal plane, the pros and cons of different reticles and parallax. After discuss- ing MOA graduations versus MILS, we learned both systems. I preferred working in MILS. Shooters familiar with MOA tended to like that system better. To excel at precision shooting you must understand external ballistics, the science of what happens to a bullet after it exits the muzzle. Ballistics is a complex subject and we discussed the basics. We learned how environmental conditions affect bullets, how to esti- mate the wind and how to correct for conditions. Then it was off to the range to collect some data. With the riflescopes mounted properly, we now needed to zero the rifles. To do this, we started by bore sighting. Rob Furlong discusses how to properly install a scope on a rifle. Although this is a low-tech method,

3 8 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Any rifle brought to the course needs to be capable of sub-MOA accuracy. it’s sufficient to put first-round hits on be calculated and corrections applied er must be able to read and adjust for paper. Once on paper, the scope is ad- using ballistic calculators. Wind is an the wind, as this variable can affect a justed and shots are fired until point of exception. Although it can be mea- shot the most. impact is centred in the bullseye. sured at the shooting position, anyone The second part to the mental game First thing the next morning, I cleaned who has studied it will know that it’s is shooting under stress. With practice, my rifle and checked the tightness of not constant, and often is blowing at shooting can be done without think- the screws on the riflescope mounts. I different speeds, even different direc- ing about position, breathing, rest or was surprised that both the bases and tions, downrange. Mentally, the shoot- follow-through. On the other hand, the rings needed to be tightened down. Some of them quite a bit! I then fired a shot through the rifle’s clean, cold bore, observing a slight point of impact shift low and left. Next, a three-shot group confirmed the zero data from the previous day was good. I continued this process of shooting groups on targets every 100 metres from 200 to 600 metres. At each distance, I recorded the elevation and windage setting on the scope turrets. In precision rifle shooting, this is called the D.O.P.E (Data On Previous Engagement).

Mental It is said that shooting is 10 per cent physical and 90 per cent mental. By noon on the third day of the course, we had a solid grounding in the physical, with the mental game about to begin. Most environmental variables, including elevation, temperature, hu- midity and barometric pressure, can An added bonus in the course is learning how to be a spotter, a critical skill.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 3 9 stress is something we must conquer Overall Rob Furlong has created training cours- mentally. To test our shooting under The Precision Rifle I course is well es that are packed full of information, stress, a friendly competition was held. organized and professionally run. I’ve some of which I’ve already forgotten. Students were divided into two teams. sat through enough military train- Participating in the course makes you One shooter from each team engaged ing courses to realize when I’m being feel like you are part of a team, both targets from 200 to 600 metres. The taught by a good instructor. Rob and during the course as well as his sincere first shooter to hit their 600-metre tar- his talented group of trainers created offer to be available for questions any get won the relay. a rich learning environment. It’s a fast- time after the course. Starting at 200 metres, a shooter paced course and I took a lot away from After meeting Rob in person, I real- needed to hit that target before they it. This course whetted my appetite for ized that he’s not a celebrity or a shoot- could move to the next. Ten minutes more. It’s good that there are two more ing god, he’s simply a down-to-Earth Ca- before this competition began, I was advanced courses, Precision Rifle II and nadian with exceptional shooting skills shooting targets at 600 metres and III. I would recommend these to anyone and strong values. He made the best of confidently hitting them each time. looking to take their rifle shooting to the situation he was put into and used Once the competition began, my fo- the next level. those skills in service for his country. I’m cus went out the window! It took sev- grateful that Canada produces solid, de- eral shots for me to connect with the pendable people who excel at their du- 200-metre target, precious time that Participating in the course makes ties, and use exceptional skills on behalf ended up costing me the relay. At that you feel like you are part of a of our country, instead of servicing their point, it became clear to me that I need- own egos. We can learn a lot more from ed more practice for good shooting team, both during the course Rob and his colleagues than just long- form to happen without thinking. as well as his sincere offer to be range shooting. I certainly did. But I’ve only scratched the surface available for questions any of what was covered in the course. An time after the course. added bonus for me was learning how Contact to be a spotter. Skills like communica- Rob Furlong Marksmanship Academy tion, shot declaration, calling correc- Posted on the RFMA website is a http://rfma.ca tions and watching for bullet trace (the quote from Carl W. Buechner: “They Edmonton, Alberta 780-758-4084 trail of disturbed air behind the bullet) may forget what you said, but they will [email protected] were also valuable. never forget how you made them feel.”

TYPE 81 SEMI-AUTO 7.62X39 PRE-ORDER

Introducing the NON-RESTRICTED Type 81SA rifle -exclusively sold and distributed by Tactical Imports.

The Type 81 is a gas operated, magazine fed, semi-automatic rifle. It uses a short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, and a two-position gas regulator. The bolt group (of the rotating bolt type) is borrowed from the Type 63 rifle. Type 81 rifles also retains the Type 63 bolt hold-open device, which catches the bolt in the open position after the last round has been fired from magazine. The fire selector - safety switch is located at the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip, and can be easily operated with the right hand thumb. Barrel and gas sytem is chrome lined.

Developed by the Chinese military as a replacement for their Type 56 rifles (license produced AK-47). Was designed to have a longer service life, higher accuracy, improved durability and better controllability in full automatic firing.

Comes with two 5/30 magazines, choice of fixed or folidng stock. All parts and components are 2016 new production, not surplus. Limited number of rifles inbound on the 2016 shipment, without a pre-order it is not likely there will be stock left over. Delivery expected Q3 2016. Priced at just $999.

TACTICALIMPORTS.CA [email protected] 416.570.3937

4 0 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Wilderness Carry Should backcountry users be authorized to carry handguns?

By Kevin Wilson

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 4 1 We have a very real predator population explosion taking place right here and now – and backcountry users are facing it head on.

4 2 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 arly this year, a movie called The Toting full packs, she and I bounced tive bear area. We knew we could well Revenant hit the silver screen. If down the sparse trail adjacent to the be on an unavoidable collision course you didn’t catch it, you should, if gin-clear rushing water. Bordered by a with danger. Acutely aware of our pre- forE no other reason than to see Leonar- steep rock wall on the far side, and an dicament, every so often, in a loud and do DiCaprio violently attacked, not once equally imposing forested incline on deep voice, I would yell, “Hey bear!” but twice, by a grizzly bear. Why? Be- ours, we had no choice but to travel Not even 10 minutes into our trek, it cause, if you’re an urbanite, it will likely tight to the creek. There was an extraor- happened. If you spend time with bears, be the closest you ever come to experi- dinary amount of bear sign. Many fresh you’ve heard it before. It’s a warning encing a life-threatening wildlife attack. piles of both grizzly and black bear scat sound best described as a cross be- In my educated opinion, as graphic told us we were moving through an ac- tween a growl and a guttural vibration. and emotionally charged as it was, Hol- lywood’s take was sorely insufficient. You see, in real life, an actual grizzly attack is typically far worse. Despite mixed media messages and ill-informed animal rights groups perpetually telling us that bears are at risk and that we should leave them all alone, we have a very real predator population explosion taking place right here and now – and backcountry users are facing it head on. Those who make their living in the wilderness, along with a growing number of recreational backcountry enthusiasts, are increasingly at risk. Keep an eye on the news – particularly out west – and you’ll hear plenty of stories about this or that worker, hunter, angler or hik- er who was attacked by a bear or cougar. Sadly, dangerous encounters and attacks are becoming more frequent and lives are being lost. Today, the odds of encountering a grizzly, black bear or cougar, not to mention wolves, in places where they live, has evolved from being a mere possibility to a probability. Dangerous encounters, along with the desire to carry for wilderness protection, are fast becoming two of the hottest topics among outdoorsmen and women. Here’s the problem: Unless you’re one of the select few who make their living in the wilderness and possess the appropriate licenses to do so, carrying a sidearm for personal protection is otherwise unlawful. Get caught carrying a handgun without proper documentation and, as it stands right now, prosecution is imminent. As predator populations soar, a growing number of outdoor enthusiasts see this as a major issue. Ul- timately, this begs the question: Should Canadian outdoorsmen and women be authorized to carry a handgun for wilderness protection? Unless you’re one of the select few who make their living Grizzly encounter in the wilderness, Before delving into this important is- and possess the sue, allow me to first share a personal appropriate licenses account; a dangerous and indeed poten- to do so, carrying a sidearm for tially life threatening encounter that my personal protection wife, Heather, and I had during a sheep is unlawful. hunt in the Rockies.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 4 3 Muffled by the fast-flowing water, we yelling and us moving away commenced to industry on how to deal with wildlife dismissed it momentarily. That was a until there was finally a big tree be- conflicts. Non-lethal management is our mistake, as seconds later, a mature tween us and him. With the bear’s vis- focus. As such, I can tell you there is a grizzly exploded from the scrub only ibility obscured and more than 60 me- time and place for deterrents like pep- a few steps in front of us! Cornered by tres between us, we stepped into high per spray and pyrotechnics, but without the steep bank, as soon as the big bear gear and vacated. a doubt, I can also say that there is an halted metres away and realized what We were lucky to escape unharmed, equal, if not more important, need to re- we were, he growled and lunged. If you but that bear definitely viewed us as a instate our right to carry a handgun for know bears, you understand that this threat and demonstrated classic defen- the purpose of wilderness protection. is about as bad as it gets. He was cor- sive behaviour. Indeed, bear spray can While carrying for defence against nered in tight quarters and we were ob- be highly effective, but if there were dangerous wildlife seems logical, as it viously perceived to be a threat to both ever a time that I wished I had a hand- stands today, it is simply not an option him and his berry patch; a bad situation gun at my side, it was then and there. for most backcountry users. We have no matter how you look at it. Far too close for comfort, I can tell you liberal politics and the mainstream me- Our only immediately accessible with great confidence that this con- dia to thank for that. Classified as re- weapon was a canister of pepper spray, frontation could have easily gone the stricted, with few exemptions, using a so Heather instinctively grabbed it and other way. sidearm for backcountry protection is freed the safety clip. Not missing a step, taboo in Canada. All sense and sensibil- we both maintained our pace and direc- The new normal ity has gone out the window as far as tion of travel. Knowing that panic wasn’t Encounters like this, and far worse, personal protection from real wildlife an option, we had no choice but to play are fast becoming a regular occurrence. threats is concerned. Could this change it out. Heather at the ready, and me yell- So prevalent in fact, that many feel it in the near future? ing each time the big bear advanced, we should be their right to carry a handgun Consider this: In that current regu- fought every urge to run. Our response for wilderness protection. I own and op- lations make it illegal for most to carry was entirely by the book, and thankfully erate a business called Wild Encounters a handgun for wilderness protection, this grizzly had read the script, as well. Ltd. Through this company, my staff and those seeking to legalize backcountry Our exchange of growling, advancing, I provide advice and training services carry are also quick and correct to point

Wilderness carry of handguns is common in the US, and it saves lives.

4 4 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 out that each year an increasing number around their feet, in all probability they tioned to avoid humans. His goal is not of people are mauled and horrifically will think twice about approaching hu- to carry a sidearm with the intent to kill killed in dangerous animal encounters. mans again. It really is that simple. an aggressive bear or mountain lion, al- Only in recent decades has the Canadian though he is more than prepared to do government limited our ability to protect Practical experience so if lives are at risk, but rather to use ourselves in the wilderness. So, is carrying a handgun really the every means possible to deter the dan- Most agree that the backcountry is a answer? After all, there are public safety gerous game as a first line of defence. more dangerous place today that it was concerns that must not be overlooked. This is the real value of having a readily even 10 years ago. Understanding why Here’s what I know: An American friend accessible and portable firearm at your will help us recognize the need to carry. of mine, a well-known Wyoming outfitter side in the backcountry. We’ve already identified that predator by the name of John Porter, is a firm be- The risk, as most policy makers see populations are imbalanced, but weigh- liever in carrying a sidearm (legal in his it, relates to qualification. Should backing in is the fact that most are either state) whenever he’s in the backcountry. country carry become legalized for the not hunted at all, or at least not to the I’ll qualify his enthusiasm by explaining masses, it would indeed be both po- extent they once were. Sport hunting that he grew up using a sidearm. He is litically and practically savvy to ensure often plays as much of a role in popu- intimately familiar and deadly accurate strict rules and regulations. I am aware lation management as it does in keep- with it. It has, over time, become an of several incidents in which carrying a ing wildlife behaviour in check. Averse extension of his body. During his ca- handgun in the backcountry has saved conditioning is vital to establishing and reer as a mountain hunting guide, he human lives. Last fall alone, news agen- maintaining healthy relationships be- has used his handgun to deter over 50 cies reported at least one grizzly or cou- tween predators and man. For instance, black bears and grizzlies. His Ruger 45 gar attack each and every week from if a bear learns that there are no nega- Colt is an effective tool that he believes mid-August to mid-October in either the tive consequences when they approach has saved lives. He’s also quick to point western provinces or in the north-west- or make contact with a human, they are out that while he has used this firearm ern United States. Sobering indeed. One likely to repeat that behaviour, espe- on many occasions to deter aggressive has to wonder, when will the Canadian cially if some type of reward is involved. bears, most often it was a matter of dis- government and firearms policy makers On the other hand, if they are greeted charging into the ground to scare them decide that enough lives have been lost with the loud report of a handgun and off. In his experience, this usually works to warrant reinstating our right to carry perhaps even a chunk of dirt flying up and it helps keep those animals condi- in the backcountry?

RightWingNation.ca Nathaniel Milljour, Nathaniel Milljour,

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 4 5 HK By NormaMarkn Gray 23

4 6 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Heckler & Koch – Mark 23 Type: Modified Browning type linkless, single and double action Operating principle: Short recoil semi-automatic Calibre: 45 ACP Capacity: 10 + 1 Barrel: 5.87 inches threaded O-ring barrel with polygonal bore profile Barrel twist: One turn in 14.88 inches Overall weight: 39.36 ounces Overall length: 9.65 inches Overall height: 5.90 inches Width: 1.53 inches Slide: One-piece machined steel Frame: Corrosion-proof, fibre-reinforced polymer frame with equipment rail Finish: Corrosion-resistant blue finish Sights: Fixed Partridge style front; standard three-dot rear Sight radius: 7.76 inches Single action trigger pull: 5.17 pounds Double action trigger pull: 11.47 pounds Safety: Frame-mounted decocking lever and separate ambidextrous safety lever Extra features: Ambidextrous magazine release, extended slide release Warranty: Lifetime on the original owner Price: $2,299 MSRP US, $2,947.64 CAD Canadian distributor: North Sylva Co., Ontario HK By NormaMarkn Gray 23

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 4 7 The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation and, like the front sight, raised for suppressor use. Night sights are optional.

three ex-Maus- machine gun. Their pistol line began the most grueling torture tests a pistol er employees, with the HK4, and later the P9, P7 and could endure. Edmund Heck- USP series were added. In 1991, HK de- The MK23 proved tremendously re- ler,In Theodore 1949 Koch and ,Alex Siedel, who veloped one of the most iconic hand- liable in environmental testing, while was later dropped from the incorpora- guns on the market today, the HK MK23 in firing tests, all 30 pistols averaged tion papers for no known reason, found- Model 0 – a gun that would eventually 6,000 rounds between stoppages. In ed Heckler & Koch (the English pronun- be adopted by US Special Operations more than 450 accuracy test firings ciation is “Coke.”). Command or USSOCOM, meaning it from a precision firing fixture, the MK23 After the Second World War, the Ger- would become a standard sidearm for pistols far exceeded the requirement, mans were forbidden to manufacture units such as the Navy Seals, Army averaging groups under 1.4 inches. weapons, a restriction placed on them Rangers, Special Forces and the Special In the end, the MK23 moved on to by the Allies in 1945. To comply with Operations Wing of the US Air Force. further testing, with the only failure be- the restrictions, they manufactured ma- ing HK’s suppressor. The suppressor was chine tools. But when the ban was lifted re-engineered by Knights Armament in 1955, they returned to their passion Birth of the MK 23 Company of Vero Beach, Fla., to make it of manufacturing firearms. The MK23 got there by being in di- work with John Browning’s short recoil, Heckler & Koch GmbH, or HK for rect competition with Colt’s entry, and tilting barrel design. short, is located in Oberndorf in the in 1991 both Colt and HK were granted a On June 29, 1995, HK was awarded a state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, $1.4 million contract to develop their re- production contract worth $4.5 million with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, spective pistols. In 1992, HK submitted for delivery of 1,950 MK23 Model 0 pistols France and the US. HK is the home of its required 30 pistol samples to the US and 10,140 matching magazines. More or- legendary firearms like the G3 battle Navy Surface Warfare Center in Crane, ders would eventually come, increasing rifle, HK21 machine gun and MP5 sub- Ind. The MK23 and Colt faced some of the total contract price to $12 million.

4 8 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Chronograph and accuracy results Veloci ty Average group Ammunition (feet per second) (inches) Doubletap DT Target 230-grain FMJ Match 1,046.6 3.0 HPR Hyper Clean 230-grain TMJ 921.1 2.3 Aguila Ammunition 230-grain FMJ 871.6 2.5 Hornady Amer. Gunner 185-grain XTP HP 1,037.1 2.5 Hornady Critical Defense 185-grain FTX HP 1,125.0 2.6 Barnes 185-grain TAC- XPD HP 1,008.3 3.0

Notes: Accuracy results are averages of five, five-shot groups at 25 yards. Velocities are from a 10-shot average recorded on a Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2, 12 feet from the muzzle.

lube and reassemble to get a good feel the HK Mark 23 feels broken in right out for the firearm. Something I didn’t ex- the box. Everything feels smooth and pect was finding the instruction man- flawless. I’m sure you’re thinking, “It ual to be such a good read. It is full of better be for the price of these guns.” I things you should know before taking agree, but usually the controls are stiff the Mark 23 to the range. on a new gun. That’s not the case here The manual explains the operating and it was a joy. system is a modified, linkless Browning The magazine release is a paddle style, short recoil design. After a round type and fully ambidextrous; glove use is fired, pressures from the propellant is not a problem, as they pose no issues gases drive back the slide and barrel dropping a magazine. The magazines to the rear. About three millimetres are steel, staggered box with counting into the rearward movement, the lock- holes on the rear. The follower and floor ing block stops the barrel and pivots it plate are polymer. downward. This is due to the engage- A feature added to all Mark 23s after ment of the angled surfaces of the lock- 1999 is a lock out device at the rear of ing block with those located in the re- the magazine well. Inserting the enclosed coil spring guide rod. The locking block key and turning it right will lock out the then disengages from the slide, and the trigger, hammer and slide, turning it back slide continues rearward. The extractor returns everything to normal operation. removes the fired case, and the ejector The polymer frame is loaded with then kicks it outwards. The slide con- features, starting with light stipple tex- tinues rearward, cocking the hammer tured side panels and diamond texture and compressing the recoil spring. At on the front and rear backstrap, making In the shooting world, great news the end of the rearward cycle, the slide it easy to hang on to the gun in all con- travels fast, and in 1996 HK released moves forward, stripping another car- ditions. The trigger guard is wide and the MK23 to the public. About mid-year tridge from the magazine and locking large. I’m able to easily place two extra- 1996, the roll mark “MK23 USSOCOM” the barrel/breech once again. large fingers inside, so glove use is a was replaced with “Mark 23.” The differ- According to HK, the captured re- non-issue. The front of the trigger guard ences between the MK23 and Mark 23 coil/buffer spring assembly reduces is grooved for off-hand finger support, were subtle. The Mark 23 is basically the felt recoil by up to 40 per cent, making for those who shoot that way. The trig- same, except for some production vari- recovery from the shot faster and en- ger is large and wide, and grooved for ances like a matte finish and frame co- abling a shooter to get back on target secure finger placement. It was a joy to lour. The Mark 23 barrel also conforms quicker. HK also promises match-grade pull for all of the 210 test shots I fired more closely to SAAMI headspace spec- accuracy without custom made or fitted through the gun. ifications, as the military barrels were parts. One way they do this is by ma- Slightly canting the Mark 23 up and made to allow ball ammunition to work chining the parts to tight tolerances and right in my shooting hand allowed my more dependably in the MK23. hand fitting them. A unique accuracy- thumb to access the manual safety, de- enhancing feature is located approxi- cocking lever, slide release and magazine The guts of the Mark 23 mately 0.75-inches from the tip of the release, all of which I found easy to use My sample HK Mark 23 arrived in a muzzle. It’s an O-ring in a milled grove. with moderate pressure and dexterity. black padded case with two magazines, Its purpose is to tighten the barrel in- The manual safety lever is ambidextrous, instruction manual, padlock, lock out side the frame once the lock-up process with a red dot to indicate it’s ready to key and extra O-rings. I usually start by is completed. The pistol ships with four fire. The hammer is a simple round spur scanning the instruction manual, espe- extra O-rings, with more available from type, and like everything else it’s beefy. cially if the firearm has a unique feature HK or aftermarket sources. It’s also easy to cock by hand. or two, and then disassemble, inspect, Something else I didn’t see coming: The slide is steel and, like all Europe-

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 4 9 C ontrols on the HK Mark 23 are well positioned and the trigger guard is spacious.

an firearms, is marked with hieroglyph- when I fired the 185-grain JHP ammuni- assembly from the barrel and slide by lift- ics that only they understand. All joking tion. I could easily feel the reduction in ing up on the rear of the guide rod and lift aside, the slide holds the fixed front and recoil even with ammunition over 1,000 out. Lift the rear of the barrel and remove adjustable rear sight. Both are elevated feet per second. I am not sure if there is it from the slide; the O-ring will make it for use with a suppressor (Canadians a break-in period on the buffer, only time feel sluggish on removal or installation. can dream) and marked with highly vis- will tell, but I like what I’ve felt so far. ible white dots. At the back of the slide Good accuracy is easily achievable Parting shot are the standard serrations to enhance with the five-pound trigger. My best So why would you put down close grip when charging the pistol. The bar- group average was 2.3 inches at 25 to $3,000 Canadian for a new HK Mark rel is threaded for use with a suppressor yards with HPR’s TMJ (Total Metal Jack- 23 designed over 24 years ago? Simple: and HK provides a thread protector. et), and I was simply using a Caldwell the same reason you would spend big Matrix rest and stable table. And, of money on new Colt Single Action Army, Shooting the Mark 23 course, I encountered no failures to a 24 Karat Gold Desert Eagle or a new I found shooting the Mark 23 to be a feed or stoppages of any kind. It was S&W Model 29 Classic Blued six-and-a- joy. It’s a big gun, but I have extra-large like shooting with an old friend who has half-inch revolver. All are classic guns, hands and it fit me just fine. But I’ve been with you for years. nostalgic icons filled with history and heard that no matter the hand size, peo- After picking up all 210 fired cases, they are beautiful machines. ple always enjoy shooting it. That might I field stripped the Mark 23. It’s simple. If you want the latest tech, try HK’s be because of the quality oozing from Drop the magazine, unload and chamber USP line of handguns. They are the its core. The manual clearly states the check the pistol, then release the slide most current manufacture and are de- Mark 23 was designed to use 230-grain forward. Move the slide rearward until the scendants of the Mark 23 and the DNA ball and 185 +P JHP ammunition. It also front end of the slide release is centered used to create it. Personally, I didn’t find says no reloads are to be used. So, does on the recess visible on the left of slide. any issues with the Mark 23, from fit and this mean you can’t use anything else? From the right side, push in, and from the finish, to the engineering that makes it Well no, but it could void your warranty. left, lift out the slide release. Remove the work. HK only makes a limited amount Be warned. Firing the three types of FMJ slide, barrel and captured recoil/buffer each year, and that’s because the com- I had on hand, I did notice some recoil re- assembly from the slide by moving it for- pany motto “No Compromise” means duction (buffering), but not as much as ward. Remove the captured recoil/buffer something at Heckler & Koch.

5 0 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Point Blank Chris McGarry

Firearm Ownership Necessary For Protection In A Volatile World

Turning on the television or reading/watching the news, with which we are bom- Carry (ATC) still exists, now applicants barded with 24/7 via the Internet and smartphones, leads to the inescapable con- must jump through a variety of unman- clusion that the world is an unstable, volatile place. Although overall crime rates ageable hoops to be granted one. in Canada, the US and many western nations are at a 50-year low, certain types of As the global economy becomes in- violent crimes, including home invasions, have become more prevalent. With all this creasingly unstable and we are faced turmoil springing up around us, it’s astounding that the very governments we elect with the threat of a third world con- to protect us and safeguard our rights maintain a rather cavalier mindset toward flict, gun control advocates will have self-defence, which is really about self-preservation. no other choice but to come to their The innocence and laidback mentality that we have in Canada was shaken in the senses and accept the fact that we do fall of 2014 with the terrorist attack on Parliament Hill. The only thing that put an end not live in a fantasyland of moonbeams, to the killer’s rampage was a good guy with a gun, Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers. unicorns and rainbows. Governments Many Canadians are unaware that the carrying of handguns for self-protection cannot protect every citizen. Therefore, in this country was quite common up until the 1970s. While the Authorization To citizens must have the means to ad- equately protect themselves and their loved ones. Last year, during the migrant crisis that shook Europe, civil unrest broke out in several European nations. Much of western Europe has stricter gun laws than the US or Canada. Nonetheless, people in countries such as Austria, Germany, Sweden and even the United Kingdom bought firearms for self-defence purposes. Europeans are beginning to figure out that firearms are indeed an important part of a free society. Thankfully, in Canada, we have not yet had to deal with a crisis of this mag- nitude. Nevertheless, we need to have an honest discussion on the right to carry in this country. Due largely to the fact that the open/concealed carrying of firearms has not been a part of Cana- dian life for decades, and is seen as an American thing, if ever passed into law, such an initiative could take a while to become normalized. Should Canadian citizens ever regain their inalienable right to carry for protection, it would most likely please the public to see CCW holders trained to many of the same standards as law enforcement officers. But first, laws gov- erning self-defence in this country need to change. Hopefully, in the future, more Many Canadians are unaware that the carrying of handguns for self-protection in this citizens will realize this and demand ac- country was quite common up until the 1970s. tion from our governments.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 5 1 Legal Corner Guy Lavergne, Attorney at Law Bill S-223 A Major Threat To Canadians’ Firearms Rights

Editor’s note: Due to production for serious concern in the firearms community. First and foremost, Bill S-223 rede- deadlines for publication of this maga- fines existing categories of firearms. Of the three current categories, restricted and zine, fast-moving stories such as this non-restricted firearms are respectively replaced with circumscribed and hunting one may not be completely current. firearms. However, this is much more than a mere change of terminology. As of press time, this bill is still alive, even though Senator Hervieux-Payette Circumscribed firearms retired on April 22, 2016. As of May 4, All semi-automatic firearms (other than .22 calibre rimfire rifles) are re-classi- 2016, Senator Anne Cools became the fied as circumscribed firearms. It will be illegal for anyone to use any such firearms Bill’s new sponsor. for hunting or for any purpose other than target shooting or collecting. Of course, Shortly before the last federal elec- all circumscribed firearms will be subject to inscription (also known as registration). tion, Liberal senator Céline Hervieux-Pay- This means that all semi-automatic non-restricted firearms, that were no longer ette filed a gun control bill (S-231) in the subject to registration after the demise of the long gun registry, will need to be Canadian Senate. Since the Conserva- registered (please forgive me, I could not bring myself to write inscribed) again. tives had a majority in the House of Com- mons, Bill S-231 received a rather limited Mandatory off-site storage amount of attention from the media and Further, other than for gun collectors, circumscribed firearms and prohibited the firearms community, there being little firearms will be subject to mandatory storage at gun clubs or other approved stor- chance the bill would become law. age facilities. Needless to say, gun clubs are not equipped to store firearms, and However, as we all know, there was such off-site storage facilities are few and far between, and likely inadequate to a political earthquake in Canada last handle large numbers of firearms. October. On April 12, 2016, (now retired) The bill makes no distinction between military-style semi-automatic firearms Senator Hervieux-Payette has re-filed (what anti-gun activists view and designate as assault rifles) and other types of her proposed firearms legislation, now semi-automatic firearms. All firearms with semi-automatic actions are targeted. designated as Bill S-223, in the Canadian Should the bill pass, a large proportion of hunting shotguns and, to a lesser extent, Senate. In all major respects, it is identi- rifles, will suddenly become obsolete. Their market value will no doubt plummet, cal to former Bill S-231. If enacted, Bill since they will only be legal for target shooting. S-223 will significantly change Canadian If passed, the bill will come into full effect one year after its enactment, which firearms legislation. means that owners of affected firearms will have one year to comply. In this particular instance, for many owners of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns who do not “Registration” is a bad word necessarily already have a restricted PAL, compliance will entail getting licensed Some changes are purely cosmetic, for circumscribed firearms. There are no grandfathering provisions. Needless to such as the change of terminology from say, it is illusory to believe that so many gun owners can be trained and licensed to registration to inscription. There is no dif- possess circumscribed firearms in such a short period of time. Once licensed, own- ference between registration, as we know ers of such firearms will need to find a proper storage facility, failing which they it, and inscription of firearms, as contem- will face a choice of surrendering their firearms or becoming overnight criminals, plated in the bill. The reason for the change simply for being in possession of their legally acquired property. is admittedly that the term registration has a bad reputation. Senator Hervieux- Transportation of firearms only by licensed carrier Payette believes that Canadians are easily If this was not bad enough, owners of circumscribed and prohibited firearms will fooled. In one of her speeches, she said: not be allowed to transport their firearms by themselves. They will need to hire a “The term registration certificate licensed carrier to do that, every time their precious firearm has to be moved be- evokes the idea of a registry. The term tween a storage facility and a shooting range. How much this will cost is anyone’s registration evokes the notion of privi- guess, but one thing is for sure: it will not be free, and likely not cheap, either. lege. Inscription certificate is more neu- Officially, Bill S-223 is meant to strengthen Canadians’ security and promote tral and doesn’t have the same connota- hunting and recreational shooting. In reality, Bill S-223 is meant to discourage the tion as registration certificate. I think the greatest number of law-abiding firearms owners from owning handguns and/or term inscription certificate is quite apt in semi-automatic long guns, by making it as onerous and complicated as possible to the case of circumscribed firearms.” own such guns. Confronted with additional training, licensing, range membership Other proposed changes to current fees, storage fees, carrier charges and greatly diminished resale value, many gun legislation are quite drastic and reason owners will likely give up their circumscribed and prohibited firearms.

5 2 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016 Government decides what’s suitable for hunting To summarize, Bill S-223 is the most The proposed definition of hunting firearms stipulates that all hunting firearms significant threat to firearms owners’ must be prescribed. No, this does not involve a medical doctor or a pharmacist. Rath- rights since Bill C-68. It should not be er, it means that in order to be considered a hunting firearm, a particular gun must taken lightly simply because it was be mentioned by name in an Order in Council (OIC). As a result, no new firearm can filed in the Senate, rather than in the be introduced to the Canadian market, as a hunting firearm, unless approved by the House of Commons. While it is still un- government in an OIC. Further, the government’s power to prescribe what is a hunt- clear whether this bill has the backing ing firearm is limited to three categories and entails discretion. The three categories of the Liberal government, it should are essentially shotguns, .22 calibre rimfire rifles and rifles that are greater than 670 not be dismissed as the brainchild of millimetres in length when operational. On the latter, the English text contradicts the a maverick senator. Ms. Hervieux-Pay- French version, and it is extremely confusing. Further, the designation of a particular ette is a Liberal, and it is unlikely that firearm as a hunting firearm is subject to the following limitation: she took this initiative without con- “On the recommendation of the Commissioner of Firearms, the Governor in sulting with the powers that be within Council may prescribe any firearm to be a hunting firearm only if, in the opinion her party. Let us remember that in the of the Governor in Council, the firearm to be prescribed is reasonable for use in Speech from the Throne, the Liberal Canada for hunting.” government said that it intended to, Hence, the Governor in Council (i.e. the government) could very well decide that “take handguns and assault rifles off your long gun, although it used to qualify as a non-restricted firearm, and even the streets.” Could it be that this bill is though it is not a semi-auto, is nevertheless not reasonable for use in Canada for what they had in mind when they wrote hunting. Calibres such as 50 BMG, one of the favourite targets (no pun intended) of those words? Those who thought that the anti-gun lobbies, as well as many of the large bore African game guns come to those words were directed at criminals mind right away as likely candidates that might not make the cut. Arguably, certain were either naive or fools. Time will sporting long guns, such as dedicated trap-shooting guns, might also be viewed as tell us what their exact meaning is, but not reasonable for hunting purposes in Canada. for the time being, it appears plausible In that case, such firearms will become prohibited firearms, which is the default that Bill S-223 is what Prime Minis- category under Bill S-223. Since there is no grandfathering provision in the bill, ter Trudeau had in mind when he had newly prohibited firearms will have to be surrendered to the police for destruction, those words inserted in the Speech unless of course the government, in its infinite wisdom, prescribes them to be cir- from the Throne. I sincerely hope that I cumscribed firearms. am wrong on that point!

Burning Registration Cards: After Canadians were able to burn their non-restricted firearm registration cards en masse, Bill S-223 wants to bring them back.

July/August 2016 w w w . n f a . c a 5 3 NFA Book Shelf Bill Rantz A Collector’s Guide to the Savage 99 Rifle and its Predecessors, the Model 1895 and 1899 A Collector’s Guide to the Savage Ninety-Nine by Doug Murray, now deceased, for information on this classic rifle. First published in 1976 and last updated in 1985, Murray provided data based on 99 Rifle and its Predecessors, Savage catalogues produced over the previous eight decades. Although it was the Model 1895 and 1899 chart based and lacked photos of actual rifles, The Ninety-Nine generated signifi- Author David Royal cant interest in this rifle and spawned many collections. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. David Royal was one of those whose passion for collecting Savage 99 lever- action rifles was fuelled by Murray’s efforts. Upon retiring to Wyoming in 2005, First edition published 2016 Royal expanded both his personal collection and knowledge of Savage Model 99s. Hard cover with dust jacket In February 2013, Royal wrote an article, The Savage Lever Action Rifle,for publica- Nine by 11 inches, 160 pages tion in the Colorado Gun Collectors Association Spokesman. Royal’s interest in the Savage line, as both collectable and hunting firearms, was Colour photographs by David also offered freely to those who participated or simply chose to monitor an Amer- and Charlotte Royal ican Internet site 24hourcampfire.com. David quickly commanded the respect and ISBN 978-0-7643-5026-9 trust of many regulars on this site’s Savage forum. They offered him access to some of the most extensive Savage collections in existence. Collectors and enthusiasts of the One topic Savage collectors often discussed was the need for an updated pub- Savage 99 lever-action rifle have long lication on this outstanding lever-action rifle. However, those who possessed vast relied upon a series of three editions knowledge had no intentions of spending the months needed to write such a book. of a reference book called The Royal, a former Marine, was encouraged to write A Collector’s Guide to the Savage 99 by his multitude of newfound friends. Creating such a publication was a massive undertaking, which consumed many months of research, extensive travel and dedicated effort. The result is an incredible publication that will be cherished by Savage enthusiasts worldwide for many years. The history of the Savage Arms Company is covered in detail, beginning with Arthur Savage’s earliest proto- types designed in the late 19th century. The transition of both the company and the lever action from the 1895, 1899 and 99 models are explained. Over 250 high-quality, colour photographs compliment the details provided in the text and allow close examination of the entire Savage line. This makes it possible to identify a particular 99 and verify it is free from after-market modifications, which can drastically reduce value. Royal has included a great deal of specific information, such as calibres available in each model, production charts, takedown systems and unique variations, including the Montreal Home Guard Military Rifle and bayonet. Photographs of the various grades of profusely engraved receivers, rarely seen by even advanced collectors, are shown in enlarged photographs. The frequently asked question about why production of the Savage 99 ceased and has not been reintroduced, unlike many older Winchester models, is answered in detail by Ron Coburn, who was the CEO of the company for 25 years. A Collector’s Guide to the Savage 99 Rifle and its Pre- decessors the Model 1895 and 1899 lists at $60 US. It is highly recommended and will be a valued addition to the library of any firearm enthusiast.

5 4 w w w . n f a . c a July/August 2016

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